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Yarmouth harbour to be 'completed' in £60m project

Andrew TurnerBBC News, Norfolk
News imagePeel Ports Group An artists impression shows multiple buildings and structures, and windfarm components, roads, grass areas, boats, ships, marine structures forming the development of the southern terminal of Great Yarmouth's outer harbour.Peel Ports Group
An artist's impression shows how the project could look when completed

A major port is set to expand to prepare for construction work linked to several national infrastructure projects.

Peel Ports said it would invest between £50m and £60m in Great Yarmouth's Outer Harbour by developing the southern terminal, creating a roll-on roll-off (RORO) lift ramp and a large storage area.

Port director Richard Goffin said the construction work, which is set to begin in 2026, would "complete" the port as laid out in a business case in the early 2000s.

He said: "It was always the intention to finish off the outer harbour. It will be a 350m long quay and around 10 to 11 hectares of land, and a RORO ramp which will be the final conclusion of the outer harbour."

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC Richard Goffin is wearing a white hard hat, with visor, and safety glasses, and a orange high visibility coat. He is standing near the outer harbour quayside west terminal, with the undeveloped southern terminal behind him. There are port structures over his left shoulder.Andrew Turner/BBC
Port director Richard Goffin says the investment will create hundreds of jobs as the port prepares for major national infrastructure projects

Mr Goffin added: "The real big benefit is national infrastructure projects - Sizewell C has been approved, we've got a lot of work inland in reservoir work and construction works.

"We also continue to support the offshore wind sector and decommissioning [of redundant gas platforms]."

The port has already begun working on the Sizewell nuclear power station project, with many sections of steel sheet piling brought in by ship.

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC A concrete "dolphin" - a structure used to moor ships alongside while they load or discharge cargo, usually stone or sand minerals. In the far distance is the undeveloped southern terminal, which is made of sand, much of which is covered in sand. In the foreground is sea water in the outer harbour.Andrew Turner/BBC
The southern terminal of the Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour has never been developed but construction is set to begin next year on 350m of new quay headings

Mr Goffin said hundreds of jobs could be created, with opportunities for local people.

He added: "Sizewell C is a massive employer, so if Sizewell C were to set up a base here there's around 200 to 300 jobs that would come with it.

"The offshore wind sector would probably be around 100 jobs on a 12-month cycle and that doesn't include the port jobs and marine jobs that are linked to it and the jobs linked inland, hotels, restaurants and supply chain."

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC Sheila Oxtoby is dressed in a pink blouse and grey jacket. She has long brunette hair tied back in a pony tail with a centre parting. She is standing on the grand staircase at Great Yarmouth Town Hall, with ornate pillars and balustrading and pictures and marble tablets mounted on the walls.Andrew Turner/BBC
Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, says the council will discuss opportunities for local people to get work

Great Yarmouth's port was effectively privatised in 2008 when Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk County Council sold their interests in Great Yarmouth Port Authority to International Port Holdings, which in turn sold to Peel Ports in 2015.

Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of the borough council, said: "For a number of years we have been discussing with Peel the opportunity afforded by expanding the southern terminal, so I'm absolutely delighted to hear that investment is now taking place.

"It's all private-sector investment and the confidence that places in Great Yarmouth as a port and place to do business is really encouraging.

"We will hopefully be in dialogue with Peel to try to ensure as many jobs as possible go to local people and positioning Great Yarmouth at the centre of a green energy hub is what we've been working towards, so this is really good news."

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A drone image showing Gorleston pier in the foreground, with the Great Yarmouth river port running out to sea in the centre, the harbour bearing up to the left of the image, and in the distance the outer harbour itself. The undeveloped land is in the centre right of the image with water either side. Various buildings and some ships are visible in the picture.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Pictured in 2019, the foreground of Great Yarmouth's Outer Harbour has never been developed beyond the breakwater walls

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