A FIRM of top consultants has been appointed to help shape the Port of Dover's future over the next 30 years.

Working with Eagle Lyon Pope and MDS Transmodel, Halcrow will be responsible for preparing a master plan to look at ways of maximising the port's potential capacity, and, if necessary, to propose new capacity outside the existing harbour walls.

As the Dover Mercury newspaper has revealed in the past, talks have taken place over the possibility of creating Westport on the Shakespeare Beach side of the Admiralty Pier to provide additional facilities for the port. This could include a rail terminal.

Halcrow's project manager, Martin Mannion, said his team would be working towards developing a vision for the Port of Dover, and in particular, an outline of the port's development over the next 30 years.

"This involves forecasting the demand patterns of the future and deciding on the strategic direction needed to achieve the long-term goals," he said.

"This project is critical in ensuring that Dover can meet the expected growth in traffic, and that the port's customers continue to receive the high levels of service they have come to expect."

During the first phase of the project, the team will be consulting port users, local and national authorities, industry experts and the community. This will help in producing the strategic direction of the port, the results of which will be published in July.

Phase two will involve optimising the existing harbour to help meet the conclusions of phase one. Subsequent phases will look at how the port could be expanded beyond the existing boundaries.