The Great South West partnership is calling for Government to deliver a multi-port solution that would unlock major investment opportunities, harness the full economic potential of the region’s ports, and support UK priorities in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
The partnership has published a Multi-Port Statement, delivered by Celtic Sea Power in collaboration with the region’s ports, which sets out how a coordinated, multi-port investment solution across the South West and South Wales could unlock the UK’s £47 billion floating offshore wind (FLOW) opportunity.
This multi-billion pound opportunity is currently being held back by complex barriers to port growth, from infrastructure, planning, and regulations, to improving the conditions for investment into large-scale renewable projects.
The proposed solution demonstrates the unique capabilities of individual ports, how the benefits of collaboration can be harnessed, and why this is critical to the UK’s economic growth, energy security, and defence resilience, in parallel to meeting the anticipated surge in FLOW deployment over the coming decades.
The benefits of the multi-port approach will also be critical to providing confidence to investors in backing the South West as a strategic industrial hub.
The statement also sets out what the region needs from the forthcoming National Wealth Fund: targeted co-investment in shared infrastructure such as grid upgrades, transport links and logistics facilities, to unlock private capital and accelerate industrial development across the South West’s port network.
The statement complements the Great South West’s FLOW Prospectus, published by the University of Plymouth, Supergen ORE Hub, Celtic Sea Power and the South West Infrastructure Partnership in November 2025.
The FLOW Prospectus outlines how the region is a key player in realising the UK’s clean energy powerhouse ambitions, and is aligned to the UK’s wider Industrial Strategy and the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan. It reinforces the critical need to invest in port and manufacturing infrastructure, and support the UK’s clean energy transition.
Plans for FLOW in the Celtic Sea have progressed, with The Crown Estate’s latest leasing round for three sites in the area entering its final stages in April 2025.
The companies bidding have shortlisted a range of locations for the assembly and deployment of offshore turbines, including Plymouth and Falmouth ports. The bidding process has highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated approach to deliver the scale of infrastructure, skills and supply chain capacity needed across the region.
The call for a multi-port solution comes as Government takes welcome steps to streamline the regulatory landscape under the Plan for Change, with Defra working at pace to simplify processes that have previously delayed progress, and appointing a single lead regulator for major projects. The Great South West is now working with ports, local authorities and industry to shape a collaborative roadmap for delivery, calling for clear recognition from central Government of the strategic national role the region can play.
This article was originally published on the Great South West website: Government needs multi-port solution to maximise benefits to UK economy
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