Associated British Ports and construction partner R G Carter have held a traditional “topping out” ceremony at a new £2.2million dry bulk warehouse at the Port of Ipswich.

The new warehouse is 3,700 square meters and will help grow the ports’ already thriving bulk businesses, which handled more than 2million tonnes of dry bulks in 2014.

It is equipped with solar panels on the roof which will provide low carbon power for the port and also uses motion sensor activated LED lighting to further reduce its carbon footprint.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer, who attended the ceremony, said; “It represents yet another real example of private sector investment in port and transport infrastructure that the Prime Minister was referring to when he visited Suffolk last week.”

Andrew Harston, ABP director, short sea ports, said; “This new warehouse facility which would fill one half of the Ipswich Town ground if erected at Portman Road is fantastic news for both the port and the region, bringing with it investment, jobs and trade.

“It is a great display of what ABP can do; working with our customers to develop facilities that help their business to grow and drive increases in operational efficiency.”

ABP’s Port of Ipswich and its customers support more than 1,800 local jobs and contribute £122m to the regional economy. The new warehouse is due to open in June.