Hopes Tees Valley Freeport bid will see companies moving in to empty land at Port of Hartlepool

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs said, if successful, bringing a Freeport to the region would help attract investment and provide more jobs for people in the area.

Freeport’s are secure customs zones located at ports, where business can be carried out inside a country’s land border, but where different customs rules apply.

They can reduce administrative burdens and tariff controls, provide relief from duties and import taxes, and ease tax and planning regulation.

Cllr Shane Moore, council leader, said he has pushed to make sure the Port of Hartlepool was included in the bid for a Tees Valley Freeport, along with Teesport.

In early 2019, the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen submitted a policy paper to Government championing a Freeport in Tees Valley, and the Combine Authority is leading the bid in partnership with the region’s five local authorities.

Cllr Moore said: “There is no downside that I’ve been able to ascertain in going through this process in us being a part of the Freeport, in fact it’s all positive.

“It ultimately increases the usage of the port, it makes it more viable going forward, there’s huge swathes of land within the port which is currently empty, and it all adds incentives to new companies coming in and existing companies expanding.

“The last thing we would want is for Teesport to be included, Hartlepool not, and then Hartlepool lose out and become an unviable port.

“It’s really, really important we fought our corner on this one and made sure Hartlepool was included.”

Denise McGuckin, council managing director, also praised Cllr Moore’s work to ensure Hartlepool was included in the bid, and highlighted the benefits of being involved.

She said: “The Freeport status itself will provide support to businesses, reduce administrative burdens on tariff controls, provide relief on taxes and other planning regulations.

“This is really important that Hartlepool is a part of that.

“Every local authority in the Tees Valley will benefit from it, but obviously if you’ve got a port you benefit more, the borough and the businesses.”

Councillors on the finance and policy committee also praised the inclusion of Hartlepool in the bid, and the benefits it could bring to the area.

Cllr John Tennant said: “If you look at the risk implications it’s very, very clear, if we vote against this, Hartlepool is left out.

“It’s very, very clear to me that we have to support this in order to bring about the regeneration of the local economy, bearing in mind the terrible year that we’ve had.”

Cllr Jim Lindridge added: “I think it means there will be further opportunities to improve our economy and strengthen job prospects, it raises the profile of Hartlepool significantly, and it will give us further opportunities in investment.”

Cllr Stephen Thomas added he also ‘tentatively supports’ the bid, but stressed it is important the benefits are felt by local people.

He said: “I think that’s the crux of the thing, seeing that economic benefit actually come into local communities.

“The last thing that I would like to see happening is the main benefactors are multinational corporations who make use of some of those customs and tax benefits, whilst the local communities actually see no tangible and positive benefits.”

The final draft for the Tees Valley Freeport bid will be presented to the TVCA Cabinet on Friday, ahead of the competition closing on 5th February 2021, with the Government announcing up to 10 Freeports across the country in the spring.

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