Associated British Ports is looking to expand its Humber footprint, bolstering its property team to help make it happen.
Rob Morton has joined the company in a new role of lead property asset manager, tasked with identifying new business opportunities for the company with an “appetite to acquire further strategic land holdings”. He will hold responsibility for property development projects, with Humber International Enterprise Park high on the agenda too.
It comes with the freeport status now operational, with specific zones allocated for development incentives.
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Simon Bird, regional director for the Humber said: “We welcome Rob to ABP and see this role as central to the success of the future development pipeline and revenue growth for the Business. There are many opportunities to enhance our current portfolio including reviews of underutilised parcels of land within our ports.”
ABP operates four ports in the Humber and describes itself as having an already extensive development land bank. He joins the team after seven years working for Commercial Estates Group, where he was responsible for the performance of a mixed portfolio comprising seven office and industrial assets across the North West and Yorkshire.
He said: “I am delighted to join ABP at this exciting time as we embark on the new property strategy. I am looking forward to working on the asset management of Humber International Enterprise Park and attracting new customers to what is one of the largest logistics development opportunities in the wider Yorkshire market.”
ABP operates the four ports of Immingham, Hull, Grimsby and Goole on the Humber. Mr Morton will work across the Hull and Immingham offices. Work on Grimsby’s Kasbah area has also been highlighted, where the company owns a substantial number of historic buildings, now being renovated. It comes as plans are unveiled for the former Ice Factory, sold in 2021, as a conference centre, with a new hotel also put forward for neighbouring land.
