Peel hunts for contractor to upgrade ports

Peel Ports, part of landowner the Peel Group, has begun the search for a contractor to upgrade and expand Liverpool and Heysham ports, ahead of potentially receiving infrastructure funding from the Government. 

Last month, the Government launched a national £200m Port Infrastructure Fund, a package of support that will go towards upgrading, expanding and improving Britain’s ports ahead of Brexit. 

Peel Ports, among other port operators, submitted bids for funding before the deadline last week. A decision on which ports will receive funding is expected next month. 

Port operators awarded funding must complete improvement works by July 2021, under the Government’s terms. To facilitate a quick start on site, Peel Ports has already issued a tender for a contractor to carry out the work.

The Port Infrastructure Fund is targeted at operators of ports that have space to build new border infrastructure at existing sites so they are ready to handle revised customs requirements when the UK leaves the European Union on 1 January, according to the Government. 

The funding could be used to build or upgrade a range of port infrastructure, including warehouses, control posts and traffic management systems. 

If Peel is successful in its funding bid, it also intends to carry out improvement works at the port of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, and at Clydeport in Scotland.