Humber’s moment for ‘economic rebirth as decarbonising pioneers’
‘AT LEAST 7,000 NEW JOBS WILL BE CREATED’ AS PART OF THE SUCCESSFUL FREEPORT BID
COP26 and the freeport launch has brought about “the Humber’s moment for economic rebirth as decarbonising pioneers” according to ABP chief Simon Bird. The regional director chairs the steering company behind the successful bid, given the go-ahead in last month’s Budget.
And reflecting on the dovetailing of the decarbonisation agenda with port-centric opportunities widening to the Humber hinterland, Mr Bird said: “All told, at least 7,000 new jobs will be created as part of the freeport project in the Humber and it is notable that these jobs are predominantly in green industries.
“As the world has turned its eyes to the COP26 summit in Glasgow, the Humber Freeport hopes to be leading the way in how to decarbonise our economy.
“Our aim is to expand and strengthen the clean growth and decarbonisation cluster of businesses within and around the Humber Freeport and across the whole area, aligning their innovation with clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and ports and logistics.
“This will create an ecosystem which allows businesses, universities and research institutions to better co-develop innovation and modernise working practices.”
Two of the three tax sites in the Humber Freeport were given the goahead last month, with Hull East and Humber Southbank in the first wave. Hull East takes in the expanding
Siemens Gamesa offshore wind manufacturing facility at Green Port Hull, parts of King
George Dock in the Port of Hull, Saltend Chemicals Park, Yorkshire Energy Park and
Humber International Enterprise Park.
Mr Bird said: “In addition to offshore wind, companies like Pensana Plc are looking to locate within this zone, to set up their rare earth processing facility which will produce materials that are critical to electric car and wind turbine production.
“Plans are also afoot to use former industrial sites to capture and store carbon, to manufacture green jet fuel and to develop blue hydrogen production.
“The Humber Freeport has a unique offer and as we can see from COP 26 and all the associated activity, that offer is closely aligned with the plans of potential investors. This is the Humber’s moment for economic rebirth, as decarbonising pioneers”.
Mr Bird said the “hugely welcome” announcement “means that we are now in position to move forward with our ambitious plans to attract investment, grow jobs and decarbonise our area, the most carbon polluting part of the UK”.
Not included in the first wave of announcements, the Humber Freeport’s third tax site is in Goole, and is focused on manufacturing jobs and supply chain support for Siemens Mobility’s emerging train plant.