More funding accelerates plans for freeport zones

2 hours ago

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — The government has invested a further £255,000 in to freeport zones in Plymouth

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport Two large white buildings with large windows. There are people walking behind one of the buildings on the left. There is a red and white stripped barrier on the right of the image, with a road at the centre, in-between the buildings. — The government has invested a further £255,000 in to freeport zones in Plymouth

Freeport zones in Plymouth have been given additional funding from the government to accelerate planning.

The £255,000 boost will be used to kickstart the growth of Langage, Sherford and Turnchapel, said the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport.

The business, set up in 2022, was granted £25 million of seed funding in 2024 to address infrastructure gaps and to create the right conditions to encourage private sector investment.

The freeport has attracted more than £70 million of investment since it was set up, with the focus on marine, defence, and space industries according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

'Rapid review'

There are a total of 12 freeports in the UK, which aim to create economic activity as goods imported in the zone are exempt from tariffs.

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport said more than 3,000 jobs were expected to come from the area being given this economic status.

The area is covered by three local authorities including: Plymouth, South Hams District Council and Devon County Council.

Plymouth City Council said due to freeport status there was high demand for more industrial and waterside space to meet the needs of the city's defence and marine autonomy clusters, with firms looking to test, trial and deploy within Plymouth and wider the freeport area.

It said the funding would commission "a rapid review to better understand the specific planning requirements for each developer and the required performance commitments that would be needed to deliver the freeport vision and secure much needed retained rates".

Councillor Tudor Evans said: "There is huge pent-up potential for further growth in defence and marine autonomy industries in Plymouth and the freeport is key to helping unlock this potential.

"We all need to operate at pace to grab these big opportunities.

"This government grant funding will help speed up the process for unlocking these three key sites, which will secure private sector match funding and ongoing economic growth and job creation."

The full seed funding capital programme with match funding of £4m from Plymouth City Council, £9m from Devon County Council and infrastructure support from South Hams District Council, has also included innovation units and office space at South Yard in Devonport.

It also included a spine road extension to unlock plots at Langage and a pedestrian/cycle bridge across the A38 by Devon County Council, set to provide residents active travel access between the Freeport's Langage and Sherford sites.