The Port Infrastructure Fund was launched on 2 October 2020 to enable maritime ports, airports and international rail termini currently handling goods imported from the EU to access funds to build the necessary infrastructure and facilities to enable customs and sanitary/phytosanitary checks to be carried out at ports following the end of the transition period.

The bidding window for applications to the Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) closed at midday on 30 October. The Fund received 53 applications from a range of seaports, rail facilities and airports.

All applications which passed the eligibility and assessment criteria focused on project delivery, design and value for money, as set out at the beginning of the application process, will receive some of the funding.

This funding is just one part of the £705 million invested in UK borders to ensure that they are fully operational after the transition period, including £270 million for government-provided inland border control facilities, over and above the £200 million PIF, to serve ports which do not have space to build new infrastructure onsite.

Of the 53 ports that applied to the fund, 41 were successful in their application and a total of £200 million has been provisionally allocated.

12 ports were not considered eligible or were unsuccessful at the assessment phase.