King's Lynn: Major expansion plans revealed for port

Associate British Ports (ABP) wants to add a new distribution centre and storage to its riverside operations in King's Lynn.

In a letter to West Norfolk council's planning department, it says: "ABP proposes to undertake development at the Port of Kings Lynn consisting of the construction of a 9,500 sqm production and distribution facility for the import and distribution of animal feed-grade salt products. It will consist of a 4664 sqm bulk storage shed."

Further expansion is planned at the Port of King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop)

The new facilities, which will occupy an area greater than a football pitch, can be added under permitted development rights, meaning that they do not require planning permission from the council.

It comes after major investment in the port, which handles around 300 ships a year and 400,000 tonnes of cargo, including new cranes, silos and lock gates.

A new £1.4m timber shed was added two years ago, to help meet booming demand for wood products for DIY projects and home improvements.

A cargo ship turns across the river as it manoeuvres into the docks at King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop)

Ships berth for loading and unloading both on the tidal Great Ouse riverside and in the Alexandra and Bentinck docks, which are separated from the river by lock gates.

Along with grain and timber, Lynn also handles imports of aggregate from Egypt and Portugal, in the form of a porous material used to make the foundations for roads. It also exports scrap metal for recycling.

A ship ready to be loaded at King's Lynn docks (Image: Chris Bishop)

ABP says together with its two other East Anglian ports, Lowestoft and Ipswich, it contributes £360m to the UK economy every year.

The Lynn port supports more than 5,000 jobs in the local economy, ranging from farm workers, hauliers and maltings staff who grow, haul or process barley grown in north Norfolk, to builders, roofers and landscapers who use timber imported from Scandinavia and the Baltic.