The government has committed to ensuring that national planning policy "reflects the needs and priority" of freeports and investment zones.
According to the Freeports Delivery Roadmap, this would give local planning authorities and businesses "greater certainty and clarity".
It features more than 50 cross-government measures, including a £150 million Investment Opportunities Fund to help freeports and investment zones respond quickly to land large investment opportunities as they arise, to "further accelerate much-needed trade and investment in key port areas across the country".
The roadmap states: "The government will ensure that relevant national planning policy reflects the needs and priority of freeports and investment zones, giving local planning authorities and businesses greater certainty and clarity".
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) new National Development Management Policies, the National Policy Statement for Ports, and the associated planning practice guidance on ports and transport are all listed in the document.
It also sets out that any freeport or investment zone project deemed to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) will benefit from a reformed consenting process from spring this year. This includes the project being eligible for the new "fast-track route" for seeking development consent.
According to the roadmap, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' (DLUHC) 'Planning Super Squad' will be empowered to support freeport and investment zone projects to accelerate large priority developments. It explains this could include bolstering local authority capability and greater use of local development orders.
Freeports and investment zones benefit from financial support from the government, tax relief and eased planning processes, among other advantages.
Other measures in the roadmap include improving infrastructure. This includes the UK Infrastructure Bank working with freeports to finance upgrades to infrastructure, including through flexible loans to local authorities and debt, equity or guarantees to private investors.
The government said some investments have already been unlocked at freeports, with £130 million invested by Associated British Ports at the Port of Southampton, for a shore power project and terminal operating system in support of the automotive sector.
Minister for Levelling Up, Jacob Young, said: "We are already seeing the vast and undeniable opportunities that Freeports are bringing, having brought in almost £3 billion of investment, which will create thousands of long-term jobs in sectors of the future".
"Our action plan in the Freeports Delivery Roadmap will maximise the potential of these communities to become centres of innovation and investment, with clear delivery timeframes to ensure rapid progress".
"Our goal is to improve lives for local people in areas historically overlooked and Freeports are helping us achieve that".
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