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Ports: Felixstowe South

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Derek Twigg) has made the following Ministerial Statement. I am today issuing a decision on the proposals submitted by Hutchison Ports for reconfiguration of Felixstowe South (the Landguard terminal) as a deep-sea container port terminal. The inspector's report of the public inquiry held into the proposals is also being published today. My decision and the reasons for it are set out in my department's decision letter. After carefully considering the inspector's report and taking into account all relevant considerations, I have decided to authorise the port    development, in line with the inspector's recommendation. My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has accepted the inspector's recommendation in favour of those parts of the reconfiguration proposals which fall to him to determine and has today issued a decision granting planning permission.