Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd has submitted plans to Suffolk Coastal council to develop part of the oldest area of the Port of Felixstowe, off Dock Road, just inside Dock Gate One.
The £40million scheme – which will reuse the now decontaminated site of the old Calor Gas Terminal liquid propane gas installation, part of the Tank Farm bulk liquids storage centre area, and several haulage yards – will see some port roads wiped off the map to be replaced by four huge warehouses, providing almost 1million sq ft of space tailored to the needs of customers .
It is the first phase of a scheme – another 18 acres of transit sheds and warehouses could be cleared in future if it is a success – which aims to ensure the port stays ahead of its rivals, particularly London Gateway.
The state-of-the-art storage and distribution centre will take advantage of port-centric logistics, providing customers with the ability to unpack and repack boxes for dedicated delivery runs.
It is expected to take 18 months to build and will include gatehouse facilities and associated access, parking for 500 cars and more than 150 trailers, sprinkler tanks, earthworks, drainage and landscape works.
The smallest of the four buildings will be 106,000 sq ft and the largest 363,000 sq ft.
The site was originally marshland until the 1940s when it was reclaimed for development and several drainage watercourses still run across it.
In a letter to Suffolk Coastal, HPUK said: “The proposals reflect the aspirations of Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd to expand and consolidate its role at the Port of Felixstowe as the UK’s largest container port and represent the first phase of development associated with the new logistics park.
“It should be noted that scope exists to bring forward additional land, adjoining the current site boundary, at a future date for logistics purposes.”
The port says the site has the key advantage of being located within the port’s perimeter and it is less than 100metres from the newest Berths 8 and 9 – which can handled the world’s largest ships and are currently being extended – and 500m from Trinity Terminal.
It is expecting “huge interest” in the project site from importers, retailers and third-party logistics providers.
source: Ipswich Star