Fresh plans for a huge job-creating energy and technology park near Hull have been approved by the city council.
Revised proposals for the £200m scheme known as Yorkshire Energy Park are said to cement Hull’s status as a renewable energy leader. The move follows news in November that rare earth specialist Pensana, which is plotting a £150m separation facility at the nearby Saltend Chemicals Park, is investigating putting a magnet metals operation on the 200-acre site on the former Hedon Airfield.
The park, which is being led by Hull-based developer Sewell Group, previously received conditional consent from East Riding Council in November 2019 but was said to have been delayed by Brexit and Covid factors. It is intended to host a range of renewables-related businesses and will feature digital infrastructure, battery storage and research and development facilities.
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Overall around one million square feet of business space, green technology education and sports facilities are proposed. The land forms part of the Humber Freeport and council chiefs are hopeful it will be a catalyst for the Humber Energy Estuary cluster.
It is expected to create around 4,500 jobs, both on and off site as part of the construction phase, with developers saying they will target 80% of the workforce recruitment locally. The Park is also set to support the creation of Hull’s second district heating scheme, which will take waste heat from Saltend Chemicals Park and was awarded £22m from the Green Heat Network Fund earlier this year.
Coun Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This decision will provide significant opportunities at the Yorkshire Energy Park. It will help cement Hull’s status as a leader in renewable energy, whilst also creating large-scale local job opportunities in the area.”
The former Hedon Airfield site is owned by Hull City Councill but sits outside of its administrative boundary. The council says public engagement with nearby residents was carried out, as well as with sports clubs statutory service providers and bodies.
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber