The proposed development will increase the port's capacity from around 250,000 containers a year to around 1.5m.

Announcing his decision today to approve Teesport's applications for the necessary Harbour Revision Order and Transport and Works Act Order, Fitzpatrick said:

"PD Teesport's proposal confirms our view - which we set out in last year's Interim Report on our ports policy review - that the existing regulatory and operating framework for ports allows the market to continue to meet the demand for additional capacity."