Trade and commerce

"The regional economy and trading networks have a pivotal role in the social and environmental fabric surrounding the estuaries"

Traditional industries such as ship building have a highly important place in the regional economy though other industries such as tourism reflect the need for the diversification of businesses in the 21st Century.

The Royal Navy continues to make a highly valuable contribution to local and regional economies, a reflection of the historical development of Plymouth and its surrounding lands.

Devonport Dockyard occupies a considerable 300 acres of land on the eastern banks of the Tamar and is the largest ship repair facility in Western Europe.

A busy commercial port, ferry services to France and Spain and substantial marine commerce infrastructure adds to the maritime flavour of a mixed and diverse economic environment.

Communication and transportation also have a vital role. Given the estuaries position relative to other major urban centres, links by road, rail and sea have and will remain to be of paramount importance.

As well as the ferries and cruise ships operating from the harbours, important links are maintained through road and rail via the A38, the Great Western railway line and the Tamar Valley railway.

The Tamar toll bridge is the main route by which the majority of commercial, commuter and visitor traffic passes over the Tamar on the A38 to and from Cornwall.

The West Country remains the UK's most popular destination. The attractive coastal setting of Plymouth Sound and the area's location at the junction of Devon and Cornwall coupled with outstanding surrounding countryside, moors and many facilities attract a wide range of local and overseas visitors. Interwoven with the estuaries, tourism maintains many thousands of jobs and is estimated to contribute £50-65 million per annum to the local economy.

Special features

• Millbay Docks, a first class passenger terminal, capable of handling 1700 passengers and 500 cars per hour
• Sutton Harbour specialises in the fishing industry, sea angling, dive charter and marina facilities
• The Cattewater Harbour Commission was established in 1874 to build Mount Batten breakwater and today acts as the navigation and conservancy authority for the Cattewater and the civil pilotage for the Dockyard Port of Plymouth
• Twenty-seven boatyards and nine marinas provide skills, materials and services to support boat building, re-fitting, maintenance, berthing and buying and selling of commercial and leisure craft

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