A COMMERCIAL property agent from Southampton today warned that the city's port will fall back in European rankings after plans to build a £600m container port at Dibden Bay in Southampton Water were rejected.

As reported extensively in the Daily Echo last week, concerns have been aired by local business leaders that container shipping lines will now look to other ports with more space to ply their trade with.

James Clay, of London Clancy voiced the fears that have also been privately expressed by a number of other people in his profession.

He said of the Dibden Bay decision: "This is a blow to Southampton and the wider region.

"Fortunately, there are a lot of other things going on in and around Southampton so the region will continue to move on but the new container port at Dibden Bay was due to play its part.

"It's like Southampton FC before the move to St Mary's Stadium. The team survived but wasn't going anywhere.

"Although there is planned expansion on the existing dock of 25 per cent from just under 2,000,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units), Southampton will fall back in the European rankings.

"The port will be no more than a commercial feeder port. To put this in perspective, Europe's largest (hub) ports are Rotterdam (seven million TEU), Antwerp and Hamburg (both five million TEU).

"Planned expansion will see Rotterdam at 15 million, Antwerp 10.5 and Hamburg 8.5 million by 2010.

"Felixstowe already handles three million and will double by the end of the decade.

"The planned expansion of 0.5 million TEU will nevertheless lead to increased demand for warehouses with the larger secured yards where freight companies can consolidate and break container loads.

"The freight companies don't need high-quality units but they will willingly fit into older units with lower rents and short-term leases.

"Marchwood Industrial Park and Nursling can expect to receive most inquiries even without Dibden Bay.

"The road and rail network will be put under pressure but the funding may be slower to come through now the Dibden Bay container port is not taking place."