Belfast Harbour to press ahead with planned £9m logistics hub

Belfast Harbour has confirmed it will proceed with plans to develop a new £9 million logistics hub at the port after securing planning permission last week.

Harbour commissioners originally drew up plans for a new facility on the Westbank Road four years ago.

The project was relaunched last year in response to roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) traffic at the port reaching an all-time high.

The new 50,000 sq ft warehouse will feature chilled and ambient warehouse space with 17 loading docks and around 40 HGV parking spaces.

Port director Michael Robinson said: “We are really pleased to see the new logistics warehouse receive planning permission as we believe the development will further cement Belfast Harbour’s place as NI’s key shipping and logistics hub.

“The decision to proceed with this project at the heart of the port was driven by both an increase in customer demand, and the desire from logistics and supply chain businesses to improve connectivity and increase sustainability through reduced mileage.

“The warehouse will not only provide much needed new capacity in the sector but will also create jobs locally and support Belfast Harbour’s position as a world leading regional port and key economic hub for the region.”

Harbour commissioners have said opportunities exist for the development of further warehousing capacity at the location for operators ‘seeking to leverage the competitive advantage of the location’.