The Government has reconfirmed its commitment to freeports – including Solent Freeport – in a newly published 10-year industrial strategy document.

The 160-page paper, The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, is designed to boost economic growth, with the ultimate aim of making the UK the best country to invest in anywhere in the world.

Published alongside it is the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, which sets out future policy for freeports, and the June 2025 UK Freeports Programme Report, which looks back at how freeports have evolved.

The Government says “Freeports across the UK have attracted £6.4 billion of investment to date. We are committed to Freeports as well as Investment Zones but recognise that we must do more to make them a success.

“As set out in the Action Plan published alongside our Industrial Strategy and developed with the devolved governments, we will enhance all our Industrial Strategy Zones with streamlined planning processes, better-targeted investment promotion, support for accessing concessionary finance, and coordinated support on skills.”

The Government has brought the Freeports Programme, alongside the UK’s Investment Zones, under the new joint banner of Industrial Strategy Zones, reflecting the pivotal role they will play in driving investment in high-growth sectors and the bolstered support they will receive to do so.

The 22 Industrial Strategy Zones – encompassing Freeports and Investment Zones across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are expected to generate more than £50 billion of private investment, ensuring the UK is growing the industries of the future and generating well-paid jobs for communities across the UK.

The Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan sets out a blueprint for how the Government will ensure the zones reach their full potential and drive the change needed in city regions and clusters.

This includes strengthening Mayors’ oversight of Industrial Strategy Zones to ensure they are embedded within an integrated growth strategy for their regions and are fully accountable to the communities they serve.

The Action Plan also details how the Government will provide a wide range of additional support from across government to accelerate the delivery of Industrial Strategy Zones.

The Freeports Programme Report outlines the progress of the programme, including the establishment of strong local partnerships, the unlocking and development of strategic sites and the significant investments secured so far.

The modern Industrial Strategy has set out a new economic approach to backing the UK’s strengths, with ambitious plans for eight high-growth sectors.

Solent Freeport Chair Brian Johnson has welcomed the publication of the Industrial Strategy and Action Plan.

“We are grateful that the Government is continuing to back freeports as a way of attracting inward investment into the country to create employment opportunities, regenerate our coastal communities and, in our case, drive growth in the Solent region.

“Our team works tirelessly to progress our stated mission of sustainable progress within Solent Freeport and the region as a whole and we look forward to continuing this under the new Government structure.

“Just this week we invested £4.8m from our seed capital fund into Portico Shipping, the Portsmouth based international cargo operator, to grow operations, provide environmental improvements and create job opportunities – with two other investments in the pipeline.

“We also have all available units currently occupied at our Havant tax site Dunsbury Park and we are expecting a planning application for the next phase of the Navigator Quarter tax site, adjacent to Southampton Airport, in the near future.

“We work in close collaboration with our many local authorities and private partner businesses across the region for the greater good and it is very much that team effort which is enabling us to move forward.”

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth, said: “Our nations and regions each have their own unique strengths, talents and geographies and each one rightly wants and deserves sustainable economic growth and rising living standards. Delivering on this, in partnership with local leaders, is at the heart of the government’s growth mission.

“We inherited a range of programmes – Freeports, Investment Zones and Enterprise Zones – that aim to drive growth in key industries in places across the UK, but which were being delivered in siloes.

“These programmes can and should be key tools for driving growth across the UK and we are committed to bringing them closer together as part of our modern Industrial Strategy, with shared delivery mechanisms and a stronger support offer from the UK and devolved governments.

“Investment Zones and Freeports in particular are perfectly placed to be a key element of this government’s Industrial Strategy, also published today. They cover many of the highest potential industrial clusters across our growth-driving sectors and the country.

“Industrial Strategy Zones are playing a pivotal role in gathering momentum on our critical path towards regional and national growth.

“This is clearly demonstrated in the Freeports Programme Report, which shows how Freeports have laid the foundations for long-term growth for their regions.

“Industrial Strategy Zones have undoubtedly created thousands of jobs, improving the prosperity and resilience of the UK and its people along the way – but there is much more to come.

“Freeports, Investment Zones, and Enterprise Zones should be more closely aligned, and they come with a powerful but incomplete set of tools, with gaps in areas ranging from planning and grid connectivity to skills and innovation support.

“The Action Plan shows how the government has already taken steps to address these limitations, and how we will go further to ensure we truly deliver for local areas.”

Full reports:

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685854d15225e4ed0bf3ceba/industrial_strategy_policy_paper.pdf

Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-zones-action-plan/industrial-strategy-zones-action-plan

UK Freeports Programme Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68591ec735070b6957ab9088/Freeports_Programme_Report_June_2025.pdf