Anglesey will now benefit from Freeport status where simplified customs and trade rules will apply, providing greater incentives for investment and trade. In future, goods entering Anglesey Freeport will not be subject to the UK’s usual tax and customs regime, supporting long-term business investment, and boosting the prosperity of Anglesey and North Wales.

Research indicates that the Anglesey Freeport could:

• create up to 13,000 high-skilled, high-wage jobs for local people over 15 years;
• increase UK GDP by GBP 1bn by 2030, stimulated by business investment in R&D, servicing the supply chain of new green technologies;
• increase manufacturing output across North Wales whilst working in partnership with world-class educational institutions and supporting the upskilling of communities across North Wales.

The announcement signals the beginning of the process to revitalise the GB land bridge, which has suffered a 20% reduction in trade since Brexit. The Freeport will reduce the need for hauliers to transit goods around the southern tip of the UK, a process which is both environmentally damaging and economically inefficient.

The Freeport will accelerate the take up of sustainable energy production by building on existing industry-leading net-zero initiatives on the Island’s coastline. This will bolster the County Council’s existing ‘Energy Island Programme’ and produce much-needed energy supplies for the rest of the UK. Net zero goals will be achieved through the largest consented tidal energy project in the world.

The Anglesey Freeport would extend 45km from Holyhead port, covering the whole Isle of Anglesey, with four zones designated as tax or customs sites. The proposed sites are Holyhead Port (including 213-acre former Anglesey Aluminium site and deep water jetty), Parc Cybi, Rhosgoch and M-Sparc Science Parc.