Peel Ports Group says it has reached a “significant milestone” in its 20-year £50 million Sheerness Master Plan.

In the past year it has sunk £27 million into its 50-acre Wellmarsh site on the former Sheerness steel mill creating storage units and a 23-acre car park for imported vehicles.

A further 25-acres of timber storage and treatment facilities have been created to make Sheerness a leading port for bulk timber products. It is currently the largest terminal of its kind in the UK.

Bosses are planning to boost business more in the next year with a 26,000 sq ft timber treatment plant in association with Rowlinson Timber.

Port director Richard Goffin said: “Our current running investment of £27 million at Sheerness represents our continued commitment to the region as part of our 20-year Master Plan, our strategy for growth we launched in 2014.

"The Wellmarsh site is the ideal strategic location to serve key markets.

"With further investment we hope to make a significant difference and create around 1,000 jobs in addition to the 1,640 the port already supports."

Once completed, Peel Ports expects to have invested an estimated £50million in the region.