Company news
20th September, London, UK: Swedish port and ferry operator Stena Line has today announced it has finalised a deal to purchase a major investment site close to its Holyhead Port, in Anglesey, North Wales. The Company has secured the winning bid for the 213-acre Eco Parks’ former Anglesey Aluminium site in Holyhead, which is a key strategic commercial and employment landbank in the region.
Stena Line has owned and operated Holyhead port for 27 years. The Company has made this significant move now in order facilitate the extension of the Port’s operations in the area. The new site has the potential to provide additional land and services to existing customers. As well as the aim of attracting new long-term uses and investment to Holyhead, that will support the Port’s operations and become a major boost to the Welsh economy.
Ian Hampton, Executive Director, Stena Line UK Ltd, says: “This purchase is a significant investment for us and forms an important part of our long-term strategy for the future of Holyhead Port. Our plans for the site have the potential to be a significant boost for the regional economy and local jobs. Holyhead is the largest port we own and remains the second busiest RoRo port in the UK, as well as the main route to Ireland. This deal has the potential make it even bigger and ensure it plays an even more important role in bringing further investment and jobs to Holyhead. It is a sign of our commitment to the local Region, the Welsh economy as whole, and more importantly our many colleagues whom we employ there.”
The site is adjacent to the A55 in Holyhead and includes 3km of railway track that is connected to the North Wales Main Line. The land is currently allocated for industrial uses and lies within the local Enterprise Zone. It was originally put on the market in March, with the deal completing earlier this month. The announcement was postponed out of the respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and as part of the official mourning period.
The former industrial site was one of the biggest on the market in Wales. The company does not disclose specific details of its financial transactions; however, it is a major investment.
The winning bid was based not only on the size of the bid, but also the due diligence undertaken on the bidders in respect of them having the funds and experience to deliver significant commercial development and uses on the site. It has been bought under a newly formed company Anglesey Land Holding Limited, a subsidiary of Stena Line UK Limited.
The deal also includes a large jetty within Holyhead Port, which Stena Line Ports has now taken over. The Port will now be marketing this deep-water berth to the cruise line companies that this summer have recommenced anchoring their vessels in port to dispense passenger tours into the Region.
Also, included in the deal is 2.4km tunnel, which connects the berth with the main site and runs under the Port. It is not yet known what the tunnel will be used for in the future, but it has the potential to move materials in an efficient and environmentally friendly way from the jetty to manufacturing locations within the new site. In addition, the site has a much sought-after high voltage electrical connection, which opens up other possible opportunities.
More detailed information on Stena Line’s proposals for the site will be released in due course.
For further details please contact Simon Palmer, Stena Line.
Tel: +44(0)7977369082
Email: simon.palmer@stenaline.com
About Stena Line Ports UK
Stena Line Ports owns three operating UK ports and is the main port authority for Holyhead and Fishguard in Wales and Loch Ryan Port in Scotland. It is a separate entity from Stena Line’s ferry operations. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg. Stena Line has 5,100 employees and an annual turnover of 14 billion SEK.