UK operator Peel Ports has unveiled plans for a new deep-water terminal at the Port of Great Yarmouth. The plan is to meet demand from major infrastructure projects. The East of England port expects to see a significant uplift in traffic and tonnage, which may revive local plans to reconnect rail infrastructure.
The development will add 350m of quay, a Ro-Ro ramp, a heavy lift pad and 10ha of strengthened storage, supporting Sizewell C nuclear power plant construction and the offshore energy sector. At present, the plan is that shore forwarding will all be carried out by road.
Southern Terminal to meet growing demand
The Port of Great Yarmouth is poised for significant expansion, as Peel Ports progresses plans to develop a new deep-water Southern Terminal within its Outer Harbour. The move comes in response to growing demand from the construction and energy sectors, particularly those engaged in onshore infrastructure (principally the Sizewell C nuclear power plant project) and southern North Sea offshore developments.
The project will deliver an additional 350 metres of quay, a new Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ramp, a heavy lift pad, and approximately 10 hectares of reinforced outdoor storage space. The investment reinforces Great Yarmouth’s strategic position as a logistics hub for complex energy and engineering projects, both inland and offshore.
Infrastructure hub on the East Coast
The port already plays a pivotal role in servicing high-profile construction contracts, including supporting the Sizewell C nuclear power station build and a range of offshore wind developments. It has non-tidally restricted access and deep-water capabilities. These advantages make it a competitive alternative to more congested East Coast ports. The port is already a preferred option for many aggregates businesses.
“The Port of Great Yarmouth has been supporting major inland and offshore energy projects for over six decades,” said Richard Goffin, Port Director at Great Yarmouth. “We are seeing that demand continues to grow, with real momentum now building behind some major projects.”
Peel Ports backs regional growth
Goffin has been pleased with the talent available to the port. “Our team’s expertise is second to none,” he said. “The port is ideally located to support the construction of vital infrastructure projects and is less restricted than its east coast competitors, who are impacted by items such as locks, shallow approach channels and road transport bottlenecks.”
Peel Ports, which owns and operates Great Yarmouth, confirmed the strategic nature of the development. “We are delighted to announce that Great Yarmouth is set to undergo a major expansion, with plans announced to develop a new deep-water terminal at the port,” a spokesperson said. “This development will see Great Yarmouth play an increasingly central role in the future of UK infrastructure.”
Rail interest but no connection
Despite recent media attention on rail-related movements, there is currently no rail infrastructure serving the port directly. All commercial cargo currently moves by road, with the nearest rail facility being the newly reopened Vauxhall Sidings. While that site has seen occasional use for rolling stock transfers and even filming, it is not connected to the port’s operational areas.
Norfolk County Council has previously investigated the feasibility of reinstating a rail spur to the port. However, local media reported that the consensus was not in favour. The study concluded it was not commercially viable. As a result, Great Yarmouth continues to rely on road transport links, despite ambitions to support more sustainable multimodal freight.