RCS - Boot(Henry) PLC - Planning secured for 5.5m sq ft Freeport project

Henry BootAnnouncement

13/01/2026 07:00

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RNS Number : 5685O  Boot(Henry) PLC  13 January 2026

Henry Boot and St John's College Cambridge secure planning consent for 5.5m sq
ft Freeport development in Goole

 

Henry Boot announces that HBD, the group's property investment and development
arm, in partnership with St John's College Cambridge, has secured an outline
planning consent for FREEPORT 36, a nationally significant industrial &
logistics scheme. It is anticipated that the first phase will deliver c.£130m
GDV.

 

The consent allows for the creation of a 5.5m sq ft high quality, sustainable
industrial and manufacturing park, with buildings ranging from 40,000 sq ft to
over 1,000,000 sq ft. It is expected to create around 3,000 jobs in the local
area, and 5,500 in the wider Yorkshire and Humber region. The Biodiversity Net
Gain calculation forecasts over a 10% net gain for surrounding habitats.

 

The 300-acre site is located adjacent to Junction 36 of the M62 with
convenient access to Goole Docks and the M18. The Humber Ports complex, which
includes the four major ports of Hull, Goole, Immingham and Grimsby, is the
busiest port complex in the UK. It handles approximately 17% of the nation's
trade and is located within a four-hour drive of about 80% of the UK's
population.

 

The site forms part of the Humber Freeport Goole tax site, which has already
been officially designated following review and approval by the Treasury and
HM Revenue & Customs.

 

Once operational, occupiers situated within the tax site can benefit from a
range of financial incentives including Business Rates Relief, Enhanced
Capital Allowances for investment in new plant and machinery assets, Stamp
Duty Land Tax Relief on land purchases for qualifying commercial activity, and
Enhanced Structures and Building Allowance for firms constructing or
renovating buildings for non-residential use. Employers operating within a
Freeport also pay 0% National Insurance Contributions on the salaries of
eligible new employees at the site.

 

HBD became involved in the project in 2023 before submitting an outline
planning application, which subsequently gained a resolution to grant consent
this month subject to the conclusion of the Section 106 agreement. The next
step will be to draw up detailed development plans, with the potential to
start on site before the end of the year.

 

Tim Roberts, CEO at Henry Boot, commented: "Manufacturing and logistics hubs
are a critical part of enabling business and economic growth across the
country and HBD is bringing forward another large-scale project to support
commerce in the Yorkshire region. The location and sustainability credentials
of the development will attract high-quality, long-term occupiers in their own
right, while advantages of the the scheme's strategic positioning within a
freeport tax site will act as a further draw."

Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John's College, Cambridge
commented: "The approval of the planning application is an exciting step
forward to delivering a state of the art Industrial and Manufacturing Park
within the Freeport tax zone. We are excited by the potential of the park to
bring new investment and jobs to the region."

Finbarr Dowling, Chair of Humber Freeport, said: "This is tremendous news and
is another major milestone in developing the Humber's economy. The locational
advantages of Goole, along with its strong industrial cluster and Freeport
incentives, offer end users a real competitive advantage. Industry leaders
such as Siemens Mobility, Tesco Logistics and Guardian Glass are already
located adjacent to the tax site,  and have benefitted from this strategic
location. The future of this site is very exciting."

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

Henry Boot is one of the UK's leading land, property development and home
building businesses - and we've been transforming land and spaces since 1886.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1919, we're renowned for quality,
expertise, delivery and a partnership approach across the group - which
comprises Hallam Land, HBD, Stonebridge Homes, Banner Plant and Road Link.

 

Operating across the UK, and employing over 400 people, we focus on three key
markets: residential, industrial and logistics, and urban development. Hallam
Land has facilitated 52,000 new homes since 1990, managing one of the top five
largest land portfolios in the country, with the potential to facilitate over
100,000 homes.

 

HBD manages a development pipeline of £1.3billion, the equivalent of 7
million sq ft of developments across our key markets, while maintaining a
c.£113million investment portfolio, of which 73% of the properties have an
EPC rating of 'C' or higher.

 

Stonebridge Homes, our jointly-owned home building business, manages a land
portfolio capable of delivering 1,500 homes, with an ambition to deliver up to
600 new homes a year.

 

For 65 years, Banner Plant has supplied construction products and services,
operating from seven regional depots in the north of England. We have also
developed an ambitious responsible business strategy to help us meet our aim
of being net zero carbon by 2030, and to deliver, by 2025, charitable,
community and education work valued at £1million.

 

From land promotion and property development investment to home-building and
plant hire, Henry Boot is where great places start. henryboot.co.uk.

 

Enquiries

 

FTI Consulting

Richard Sunderland/Giles Barrie

07894 797067 / 07798 926814

henryboot@fticonsulting.com

 

Henry Boot PLC

Tim Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

Darren Littlewood, Chief Financial Officer

Daniel Boot, Senior Corporate Communications Manager

07825 088807

dboot@henryboot.co.uk

henryboot.co.uk

 

Deutsche Numis

Joint Corporate Broker

Oliver Hardy

0207 260 1000

 

Peel Hunt LLP

Joint Corporate Broker

Ed Allsopp / Tom Graham

0207 418 8900

 

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