News / UK freeports could have a 'catalytic impact' – but now the hard work begins

Prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak visit Teesport following its winning bid

A tranche of newly awarded freeports presents an opportunity to regenerate both the UK’s logistics sector and some of its poorest regions – but the “hard work” is only just beginning.

Speaking on Multimodal’s Freeports panel, Vivid Economics cities and infrastructure head James Patterson-Waterston said the scale of the bids suggested freeports “could become a transformational vehicle”, but success was dependent on getting the “hard part done”.

“Strategic growth, regeneration and innovation – these are the government aims of the freeports,” said ...