Secretary of State backs £200m energy park despite protests

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE expressed disappointment after Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick gave the go-ahead to a £200 million energy park in East Yorkshire.

Ward councillor John Dennis, who spearheaded a three-year campaign against the development, earmarked for open fields between Hedon and Hull, was “not what was hoped for” but they had to “face facts”.

Developers say it could create over 4,000 jobs and supporters say it will provide a major boost to the region’s economy, following the coronavirus pandemic.

Outline plans for the former Hull Council-owned aerodrome site were approved by councillors six to five at a meeting in November, overturning a recommendation for refusal by planning officers. The scheme had been subject to a potential call-in as a departure from the Local Plan, but a letter to Coun Dennis said Conservative Minister Mr Jenrick was “satisfied that the application should be determined at a local level”.

Interim chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership Stephen Parnaby said: “I am delighted to hear that the Government has given the Yorkshire Energy Park the go-ahead.

“Schemes such as this and the much-needed A63 Castle Street improvements will play a significant role in the region’s recovery post Covid-19. Furthermore, this project aligns with the Humber’s vision of establishing itself as the UK Energy Estuary and will be a significant contributor in achieving the ambitions set out within the Humber LEP’s Industrial Strategy.”

Sewell Group, Hessle-based communications company MS3 Networks and development company Chiltern Group are behind the plans, which include a 24-hectare business park, data centre, education, training and sports facilities.

Coun Dennis said: “Our concerns have centred round the environment, wildlife, flooding and the erosion of the greenspace between industry and residential communities. Most importantly we had expressed our opposition to the additional traffic that we will have to contend with along the A1033 and the road through Hull, which is already a nightmare.”

The RSPB and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust had also objected as the fields are an important foraging ground for endangered curlews.

However plans to create wetland habitat at Thorngumbald as mitigation four miles away were approved at the November meeting.

Project director Claire Harrison said: “We welcome this latest news from the Secretary of State and look forward to continuing our close working relationships with both Hull City Council and East Riding Council, tenants and importantly, local residents in creating this flagship scheme for the Humber in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary.”

A statement from the developers said a multi-million-pound programme of improvements to the A1033 would be implemented, including additional lanes and signalling to five junctions would be delivered before the full business park becomes operational.

They said more than half the green space would be retained “maintaining an almost half-mile gap between the development and Hedon”.

The decision came as Labour stepped up calls for an inquiry into why Mr Jenrick intervened in a controversial London planning decision that could have saved a Conservative Party donor tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Jenrick has accepted his decision over the 1,500-home development on the Isle of Dogs was unlawful, but denies any bias.