The £100 million Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, marking a significant milestone in expanding the UK’s freight infrastructure. The new roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) facility, to be developed at the Port of Immingham, will be operated by Associated British Ports (ABP) and is expected to handle up to 660,000 units per year.
The approved plans include a new jetty with three berths, enhanced hard-standing areas, terminal buildings, and an internal bridge to improve connectivity across the existing port infrastructure. The facility is designed to accommodate larger vessels and speed up the turnaround times for ferries, which will be operated by Stena Line. The Swedish shipping giant currently runs four daily freight services from the Humber to the Netherlands, and this new terminal will allow for the relocation of Stena’s Immingham freight operation to a more modern and efficient site.
The application for the development was submitted by ABP in February 2023, with the Planning Inspectorate accepting it for examination the following month. During the six-month examination period, the public, statutory consultees, and other interested parties were invited to provide evidence and submit views. The Examining Authority considered these inputs before making its recommendations to the Secretary of State in April 2024.
This project is the 53rd transport application out of 144 handled by the Planning Inspectorate under the Planning Act 2008.
ABP stated that the new terminal will not only facilitate quicker sailing times but will also create much-needed space at the port, allowing for future growth and improved operations. Stena Line’s Rotterdam freight service, already relocated to Immingham, will benefit from the expanded capacity at the new terminal, enhancing connections between the UK and mainland Europe.