PORT UP FOR SALE

NEWHAVEN port is expected to be sold to British investors by its French owners within a couple of weeks.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Sep 2006, 17:11 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:39 BST

And Oakdene Homes, which bought much of the West Quay, Railway Quay and the marina last year for 11.25 million, is in the forefront of bidders for the remainder of the land.

Founder of the Reigate-based developers, Carl Turpin, said: 'They are due to come back with an answer by September 12.

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'We were one of the lead bidders. We are the logical purchasers as they need a bit of our water to turn their boats around in.'

The port was bought by the French from Sea Containers in 2001.

A consortium of interests, including French local authorities and the Dieppe Chamber of Commerce, make up the operating company, Newhaven Port and Properties.

Normandy and the town of Dieppe, in particular, was concerned about the economic impact of not having a ferry service at the time.

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According to French sources, Didier Marie, president, of the Seine-Maritime Department, came to Newhaven at the beginning of the summer to negotiate with interested parties.

The sources say the sale will include a contract binding purchasers to building luxury housing and a shopping centre on land to the east of the harbour and that a new port will be constructed.

As it stands Oakdene Homes owns and is developing the West Quay while NPP owns parts of the the eastern side of the harbour and the west beach area.

The news of the impending sale has been given a cautious welcome by people in Newhaven.

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East Sussex county councillor for Ouse Valley East, Pat Ost, said: 'There is quite extensive land ownership associated with the port, the harbour arm, the west beach and the infrastructure of the quay sides '“ it is all owned by NPP.

'I hope whoever takes it on will actively develop it as the port it can be and is not looking at it as a cheap piece of land to be developed.

'It is a financial risk for someone if they are taking it on as a port operation. If they are doing it as an acquisition of cheap land to develop that is interesting but I am not so keen on the idea. They will have to have some sort of income to maintain the structures.'

Related topics:Newhaven