New hubs of business and enterprise will be opened across the UK creating thousands of jobs, regenerating communities and turbocharging Britain’s post-Brexit growth, the Government announced on 10 February.

Up to ten new innovative Freeports will be opened across the UK as the Government seeks to level up the country and seize on the opportunities leaving the EU has presented.  This was the style of a news item delivered on behalf of HM Treasury.

A consultation has been launched setting out the Government’s vision for Freeports, with the aim of announcing the location of the new zones at the end of this year so they can be open for business in 2021.

It is understood that once the ten-week consultation is completed, the Government will invite sea, air and rail ports to bid for Freeport status on a competitive basis.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rishi Sunak, said: ‘Freeports will unleash the potential in our proud historic ports, boosting and regenerating communities across the UK as we level up. They will attract new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country.

‘This is all part of our mission as an open, outward-looking country, championing global free trade with vibrant Freeports that work for all of the UK.’

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss, added: ‘We are taking back control of our trade policy, and opening every corner of the UK to opportunities across the world.

‘Freeports will unleash the potential of our historic ports, creating jobs and regenerating communities across the UK. These hubs will also deepen partnerships around the world as we restore our economic and political independence.’

Business Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, commented: ‘Freeports represent a fantastic opportunity for our businesses to increase their trade with companies from all over the world.

‘Not only will they help create jobs and level up the UK, but they underscore our commitment to championing global free trade – unleashing our country’s potential.’

Communities and Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: ‘Our new Freeports will drive forward investment and regeneration, delivering high-skilled jobs and new homes for people across the country.’

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Jake Berry, said: ‘People across the Northern Powerhouse can look forward to a new era of jobs and prosperity unlocked by this new generation of Freeports.

‘They will unleash the potential of communities both by boosting trade with our friends across the globe and transforming surrounding areas into hotbeds of innovation where businesses will grow and create new well-paid jobs.’

Scotland Secretary Alister Jack said: ‘Freeports are a fantastic example of how Scotland and the rest of the UK can flourish outside of the EU. The opportunity to unleash the potential in our maritime, air and rail ports, regenerating communities across the UK, is too good to miss. I urge Scottish ports and partners to take part in the consultation and develop bold, ambitious plans to bid for Freeport status.

‘We want Freeports to deliver a truly UK wide regeneration and jobs boost and the UK Government will work closely with the Scottish Government to achieve this.’

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: ‘The development of Freeports will create innovation hubs across the UK, generating new ideas in a whole host of UK sectors, from customs to transport to decarbonisation.

‘A Freeport in Wales could create hundreds of jobs and facilitate significant regional economic growth. That is why I urge businesses to engage with our consultation and help us to unleash our potential in innovation, investment and growth. Working closely with the Welsh Government and businesses, we will ensure that the whole of the UK can feel the benefits.’

Freeports will boost trade, jobs and investment with a view to building innovative business clusters that benefit the local area as part of the Government’s commitment to level up every nation (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) and region.

Opportunities

Freeports will also offer an exciting opportunity for innovative Customs, transport and green technologies to be trialled in controlled environments, before being adopted more widely in relevant sectors of the economy.

The Government will work in close partnership with the Devolved Administrations (of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) so that all nations of the UK are able to share in the benefits of Freeports.

Benefits of the 2020 Freeports model could include:

• Goods brought into a Freeport do not attract tariffs until they leave the Freeport and enter the domestic market.
• No duty is payable if they are re-exported.
• When raw materials are imported and processed into a final good, duties are only paid on the final good.
• Freeports could be located inland as well as adjacent to ports. This can reduce relocation or investment costs for existing manufacturing sites near ports.
• A full customs declaration would not be required to move goods into a Freeport. This saves businesses time and makes it easier to import goods.
• Planning reforms to help sea ports develop within their boundaries and empower local councils to greenlight much-needed local construction projects.
• A regeneration agenda to level up the local areas around Freeports
• Innovative environments to trial new technologies.
• Challenge-based initiatives to build collaborative partnerships between ports, businesses and innovators

In addition, the Government is considering tax measures that aim to:

• Increase investment in infrastructure, construction and machinery in Freeports to raise productivity.
• Incentivise research to stimulate innovation in Freeports.
• Cut costs associated with processing goods through a port.
• Reduce the costs of hiring workers working in Freeport sites.

The UK’s high standards with respect to security, safety, workers’ rights, and the environment will not be compromised, it is understood.