The case was brought by the public South Tees Development Corporation , chaired by Conservative Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, against Teesport operator PD Ports, who successfully argued they had access rights across the former steelworks site which was acquired by the public body via compulsory purchase in 2020.
After a six-week civil trial at the High Court last Autumn, Judge Mr Justice Rajah ruled in favour of the port operator, and in a consequentials hearing in March went to great lengths to define PD Ports as the “winner” of the case. As a result, he decided STDC and Teesworks Ltd were to pay 80 per cent of PD Ports’ costs. It is unclear how the two parties will split those costs, although it’s expected to come to more than £2 million.