Freeport will not appeal against costly legal loss
TeesworksThe UK's biggest freeport has dropped an appeal against a High Court ruling, which ordered it to pay millions of pounds in costs.
Last year, the court ruled PD Ports had the right to access land at the Teesworks redevelopment site in Redcar.
The case was brought by Teesworks and the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC), which were ordered to pay the port's court costs, estimated at £2.73m.
Teesworks initially planned to appeal against the ruling but has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the appeal had been withdrawn and discontinued.
Following the six-week trial, Mr Justice Rajah ruled in PD Ports' favour on six out of 18 claims under dispute.
STDC said the court case was needed to provide clarity on what access rights PD Ports had to the land.
At the time, Labour MP for Stockton North Alex Cunningham criticised the decision to pursue the "meaningless action" which he said landed the public with a "massive legal bill".
PD Ports, which operates Teesport, said the Court of Appeal largely refused Teesworks permission to appeal, except on pedestrian access along South Gare Road.
STDC said it had never intended to appeal against the High Court ruling, which it again confirmed during a recent board meeting.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "Just to be clear from an STDC point of view, there's no additional financial liability at all on what Teesworks decide to do themselves.
"But I believe that legal action's been discontinued."