A planning expert representing Southampton Port bosses has outlined the need for a huge container terminal to be built at Dibden Bay.

Coastal planning specialist Martin Hendry said Associated and British Ports (ABP) needed a large area of vacant land next to a deep water channel.

Mr Hendry said the national shortage of such facilities meant Dibden Bay was one of the few suitable sites.

He added: "There is no evidence that any other locations will come forward earlier, or that they would be more attractive to the markets."

Mr Hendry was giving evidence on behalf of ABP at the public inquiry into its plan to develop reclaimed coastline between Hythe and Marchwood.

He began by listing some of the key points that emerged during the evolution of the £500m scheme.

These included the lack of suitable sites that had deep-sea access and were close to national transport networks and international trade routes.

"There are unlikely to be other opportunities to expand the port, so there was concern to maximise the use of the Dibden reclaim," he said.

"The larger the terminal capacity, the more likely it would be to attract and retain more than one of the major shipping lines and alliances."

Mr Hendry said the proposed terminal would have to be linked to the A326 road and the Totton to Fawley railway line.

Road and rail traffic would pass through Pumpfield farm, partly because the route would have the least impact on the local ecology, he added.

Mr Hendry confirmed that parts of Dibden Bay were nationally important in terms of nature conservation. He said: "The foreshore was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1994 and became part of Special Protection Area four years later.

"Our overall design objective is to minimise impacts on nature conservation where the practical availability of less damaging options makes this possible."

Mr Hendry said QuaySide Cranes would be located as far as possible from the edge of the New Forest Heritage Area.

He added that a proposed new creek would separate the terminal from nearby residential areas and enable them to maintain their separate identity. He said: "It's accepted that ports' operational activities should be kept as far away from homes as practicable."

Yesterday was the enquiry's first day at its new venue. The hearing was due to take place at the Esso recreation club, Holbury, but Esso withdrew its consent for the building to be used. Instead, opening speeches were heard at Applemore Recreation Centre Dibden Purlieu, last week. The year-long inquiry has transferred to its permanent home, the old Stena line ferry terminal in eastern docks.