North East transport hubs form partnership
Mayor Kim McGuinness has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with several of the region’s key transport and logistics hubs, including the Port of Blyth, Port of Tyne, Port of Sunderland, and Newcastle Airport.
The agreement establishes the North East Ports Partnership, which is intended to align the strategies and resources of the participating organisations.
The Port of Tyne is more than 600 acres and handles around 4.4m tonnes of cargo annually. The 150-acre Port of Blyth handles approximately 1.2m tonnes of cargo each year, while the Port of Sunderland is a 265-acre development that handles around 1.1m tonnes of cargo annually.
Newcastle Airport measures just shy of 1,000 acres and while handling more modest sums of cargo – around 6,000 tonnes in 2024 – a new £165 million logistics hub called AirLink is currently being developed with a planning application due imminently; it will span 750,000 sq ft to further increase cargo capacity.
The partnership aims to improve regional and international connectivity, attract investment, support the transition to a net zero economy and raise the profile of the North East in global trade and logistics markets.
The MOU focuses on strengthening trade links and supporting activity in offshore energy and renewable sectors, areas seen as increasingly important to the UK’s clean energy ambitions.
Through closer collaboration, the partners are seeking to position the North East as a hub for sustainable trade and innovation.
Under the agreement, the partners have set out several objectives, including improving connectivity for businesses and supply chains, supporting clean energy and low-carbon technologies, promoting inward investment and job creation, and working together on skills development to meet future workforce demand in green industries.
McGuinness said: “We have brought our three biggest ports and Airport together for the first time to unlock their full potential to drive sustainable growth, attract major investment, and lead the way on green energy jobs.
“We are making the North East the home of the green energy revolution and our ports have a huge part to play in providing a gateway to the North Sea’s biggest offshore wind zones as well as being gateways to the whole world.”
Matt Beeton, chief executive of the Port of Tyne, said: “The opportunities before the region are vast and the MoU provides the scale required to ensure the North East can lay claim to a future rich in employment through renewable energy deployment, automotive transition and large-scale manufacturing.”
Port of Blyth chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “This partnership allows us to tackle shared challenges and seize opportunities through innovation zones and advanced industries. Together, we can position the North East as a global leader in offshore energy and sustainable logistics.”
Port of Sunderland director Matthew Hunt said: “Port of Sunderland’s public ownership with its long-term view on investment return has allowed it to successfully attract significant private sector investment in the circular economy and advanced materials handling sectors.
“This agreement strengthens our commitment to creating a greener, more resilient economy for the North East and beyond.”
Newcastle Airport chief corporate affairs officer Alice Andreasen said: “Connectivity is the lifeblood of economic growth. At Newcastle Airport, this memorandum enhances our ability to attract investment and connect the North East to key global markets.”
