The Port of Southampton has been part of the life of the City of Southampton and the surrounding area for centuries. Today the port provides jobs, supports local businesses, and connects Southampton with the rest of the UK and the world, supporting over 17,000 jobs and generating in the order of £6.5 billion of value for the local and national economies. It is one of the premier ports in the UK and Europe in its key markets. But global trade doesn’t pause for breath. Advancements and changes to shipping, business and consumer behavior, and environmental imperatives mean that the port must continually evolve and reflect those changes. Looking ahead to 2050, the updated Masterplan, which builds on the work of the 2016 Masterplan, aims to begin a conversation about what the next chapter for the port could look like.

Alastair Welch, Regional Director for ABP Southampton, said: “We’d like to invite anyone who has an interest in the port to contribute to the Masterplan consultation. We want to hear views from all our stakeholders as to how the port can best serve the needs of the local, regional, and national economy. This updated Port Masterplan covering the timeframe up to 2050 sets out how we see the port evolving. Together with our partners, we estimate that we will be investing some £2 billion into the port and its supporting infrastructure in the medium to long term.”

A Masterplan provides the basis for engaging with a wide range of stakeholders about the long-term future of the port, setting out ABP’s view of key industry trends, the role the port can play in contributing to wider sustainable economic development and, at a high level, identifying future potential strategic infrastructure needs for the medium to long term. At the heart of the Masterplan is ABP Southampton’s vision to be the UK’s leading sustainable gateway port: driving economic prosperity, enabling global trade, and delivering net-zero operations through innovation, resilience, and operational excellence.

Please visit Associated British Ports | Southampton2050 to view and download the Masterplan, share your feedback, and find out more about drop-in exhibitions.

Public consultation on the Port Masterplan will run from Wednesday, November 4 to Wednesday, December 30, 2026.

Once the feedback period has ended, all responses will be reviewed, and a summary of what was heard will be published, including how feedback has helped shape the final Masterplan.

For more information, please email: southampton2050@abports.co.uk