The UK government's decision to charge business rates backdated to 2005 to port-based businesses is one of the major hurdles facing port-centric operations, according to infrastructure investor BNP Paribas.

BNP Paribas' supply chain consultant Lisa Fitch said: "It's things like the business rates issue or the length of time it takes to get planning permission that investors will look at when deciding whether they want to risk their money."

"Investors wanting to develop property for port-centric logistics need property to be attractive to occupiers. "

"It's not going to be an attractive investment if you build warehouses and they sit empty because occupiers are put off by backdated business rates."