WIGHTLINK has won permission for the £45million overhaul of a ferry terminal.

The ferry operator has now been given the go ahead to start improvements to port facilities at Fishbourne car ferry terminal.

Isle of Wight councillors have granted conditional planning permission to the company and work is now set to start in the autumn.

Improvements will include installing a new double deck boarding ramp to help vehicles embark and disembark more quickly and quietly.

This work has been dubbed as an integral part of Wightlink’s £45million Investing for the Future programme.

The project also includes improvements to the terminal facilities at Portsmouth Gunwharf, which received unanimous planning approval from Portsmouth City Council last month, and the introduction of a new ship which will be the most environmentally friendly ferry ever to sail the Solent.

The investment safeguards the jobs of 143 Islanders who work for Wightlink.

Interim Chief Executive John Burrows said: “This is good news for Wightlink, our customers and the Isle of Wight.

“When our improvements are complete and our new ship comes into service in 2018 we will be able to operate our services at Fishbourne more efficiently with quieter loading and unloading, reduced traffic congestion and more capacity when people want to travel.”

Wightlink expects to announce more details about the project, including the new ship, in the coming weeks.