James Hassett will be joining the Solent Freeport as its first Chief Executive in June 2023 driving forward the Freeport to become an established hotbed for innovation, a national hub for global trade and investment, and a catalyst for regeneration through the creation of high-skilled jobs.
The Solent Freeport is seeking views on the first business cases published for consultation to receive funding for capital projects. Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent Freeport Consortium Ltd, said: “With formal designation of the Solent Freeport announced at the end of last year, national seed capital funding has now been unlocked which brings investment […]
The Solent Freeport is calling on business leaders with experience at a senior and strategic level to apply for one of three voluntary positions of Chair of a Solent Freeport Skills Forum, designed to deliver ambitions to kick start regeneration and level up the Solent region. The Solent Freeport was announced as one of the […]
The Solent Freeport has today been announced as one of the first UK Freeports to be fully approved by Government. Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent Freeport, said: “This is the news we’ve been looking forward to and I’m grateful to our partners across the public and private sectors for their commitment and vision in […]
Three new state-of-the-art industrial and manufacturing units are out of the ground at Portsmouth City Council-owned Dunsbury Park with frames up, cladding and fit out underway. Totalling 77,000 sq ft across the three units, the space is on track for businesses to move in from early next year. The award-winning Dunsbury Park, which is next […]
The Solent Freeport has published a copy of its response to the invitation from HM Government to convert its three Freeport Tax Sites to Investment Zones. Similar to Freeport Tax Sites, Investment Zones offer a range of tax benefits such as business rates relief and enhanced capital allowances. However, tax benefits associated with Investment Zones […]
“It is with great sorrow that we have heard of the death of the Queen and on behalf of the Solent Freeport I offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. “We would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude for Her Majesty’s 70-year reign, throughout which she dedicated her life to the service […]
Hot on the heels of the Solent Freeport’s hugely successful launch last week in Southampton, the role of its Chief Executive is being advertised, and promises to be an incredibly exciting and important role, not just within the region, but nationally. Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent Freeport, who spoke at last week’s launch event, […]
Brian Johnson has been formally appointed to the role of Chair of the Solent Freeport for the next three years following a Government approved open recruitment process. Speaking about his appointment, Brian said: “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Chair of the Solent Freeport at this exciting time. We have recently reached […]
We have confirmed our support to the next phase of the Solent Freeport at our Extraordinary Council meeting on 21 March 2022, ahead of the full business case going to government for final sign-off. The Solent Freeport is one of 8 announced by the government at the March 2021 Budget. A Freeport is an area […]
Dunsbury Park is now a live tax site. Part of the Portsmouth Gateway Cluster, Dunsbury Park is a key location within the Solent Freeport. Tax incentives include 100% business rate relief for 5 years, enhanced capital allowances, leasehold stamp duty tax reliefs and 3 years employers NI relief. Dunsbury Park is an award-winning business park next […]
On Sunday 31st October at 07.00am Fawley Power Station’s 650ft (198m) chimney and remaining southern end of the Turbine Hall were demolished by contractor Brown and Mason by the controlled use of explosives. From 05.30am an exclusion zone was enforced around the site and surrounding area. Sentries and the police marked the exclusion zone boundary […]
Portsmouth International Port’s crucial terminal transformation will officially get underway after an announcement today by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that the scheme has been awarded £11.25m Levelling Up Funding. The port was part of a successful £20m bid called Transforming the Visitor Economy, which also includes funding for Hilsea Lido and […]
The Solent Freeport Consortium is recruiting for a Chair of the Board to lead the Solent Freeport. Alastair Welch, Solent Freeport Consortium Ltd Director, said: “We believe the Solent Freeport is a once in a lifetime opportunity to maximize the UK’s geographic advantage in a highly competitive global market and forge new trading relationships with […]
DP WORLD today announces that Southampton, Britain’s second largest container terminal, will benefit from a major programme of investment in 2021 designed to take it up to the next level as a premier international freight and logistics hub. The dredging and widening of the berths to ensure that DP World Southampton will be able to […]
The Solent’s ambitious bid for Freeport status has been shortlisted by Government in the 2021 budget. The Solent LEP believe the proposal has the potential to attract £2billion investment and create 52,000 jobs; through opening the potential to bring tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and streamlined planning processes to promote regeneration and innovation. Focused on […]
The Solent has a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to level-up local communities, turbocharge post-Brexit trade and invest in a net zero future, say partners behind an ambitious bid for Freeport status. We have submitted a Freeport proposal to government on behalf of a coalition of businesses, local authorities and other partner organisations. The bid is in response […]