£200m green energy park approved with promise of 4,500 jobs
PLANS for a £200m green energy park, which could create 4,500 jobs in Yorkshire, have been approved by councillors.
Yorkshire Energy Park, which is on the site of the former Hedon Aerodrome, to the east of Hull, is set to focus on renewable energy, battery storage, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and a number of research and development projects.
The proposal, for land allocated to the wider Humber Freeport scheme, was approved by Hull City Council’s ruling cabinet.
Coun Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said it was good news.
He 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 council has agreed to support future development at the site, which covers an area of around 93,000 square metres.
Approval comes after an agreement in November for Pensana plc, a rare earth specialist, to build a magnet metal facility at the park, which would support the electric car industry.
The agreement would also see a regional centre of engineering excellence, training and higher education created in partnership with the University of Lincoln.
A new power station is set to be built to provide energy to the site’s users.
The energy park is also expected to support the creation of a new district heat network for Hull using waste energy from the Saltend Chemicals Park.
Other plans for the site include new sports facilities and the improvement of wildlife habitats.
The site falls outside Hull City Council’s administrative boundary and people in Hedon were consulted ahead of the decision to approve the plans.
The council said it hoped that the move would be a catalyst for the Humber “Energy Estuary” – the aspiration to turn the region into a renewables powerhouse.
The 4,500 jobs estimate includes those created both during the construction phase and when the park is fully occupied by tenants.
In addition to job creation, the council also hopes to benefit through commercial arrangements, including capital receipts and long-term revenue income share.