Milford Haven Port Authority has started a series of consultations as part of a master planning process; the aim of which is to determine the future development requirements of the Port over the next thirty years.

The process, which will take some six to nine months to complete and will include public consultation, aims to assess potential trading patterns, threats and issues facing the port and from such potential market developments  identify possible infrastructure and other property requirements. The overall objective of the master plan is to identify the potential spatial requirements for long-term development of the Authority.

MHPA Chief Executive Alec Don said "By inviting and talking with a wide range of stakeholders and the public we can provide a better understanding of port operations and listen to views and ideas on what future developments may occur as well as look at the potential impact and benefit to those who live and work around the waterway."

"This process is necessary to clarify our own strategic planning and to assist regional and local planning bodies as well as transport network providers develop their plans."

Alec Don added that it was equally important to engage in a discussion with port users, employees and local communities about how the port may develop. "As much as anything, master planning is about ideas, and there are no restrictions on where good ideas may come from.  We very much hope everyone will engage with us in this process and help ensure that the Port of Milford continues for the next generation as a fundamental driver of economic growth and prosperity."

MHPA has engaged Mouchel, a specialised consulting and business service group to lead the master planning process and manage the consultation and engagement process with stakeholders.

Sean Barker, Project Manager for Mouchel commented "Master Planning is essential to ensure that local and regional spatial plans take full account of the economic benefit that a deep water port such as Milford Haven can deliver.  It is not just about road and rail connections, but pipelines for gas and petroleum products, under-utilised Electricity grid capacity, renewable energy, internet capacity, population skills, and, critically, that all of these industries are here primarily because Milford Haven is a superb natural deep water harbour.

The Master Planning process we are embarking on adopts a model of due process, obtaining input from a wide sector of stakeholders, including employees, customers, regulatory bodies and the community'."

 www.mhpa.co.uk