The building of a £30 million new cold store on Grimsby’s Europarc is set to start in early September.
HSH Coldstores is behind the long-held plan to develop a significant expansion to the town’s capacity - a vital element of the seafood cluster.
Recently rebranded as Constellation Cold Logistics - following a majority acquisition of the Grimsby firm by the London-headquartered European operator in January 2021 - the business is in the process of appointing a principal contractor as it awaits final planning consent. The new name also absorbs recent £16.5 million addition, Associated Cold Stores & Transport. December’s huge deal to unite the two giants in the sector has also been cleared by the Competitions and Markets Authority, having initially been called in following the completion.
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The update on the successful 海角视频 Seafood Fund Round One applicant comes as the second tranche of grants has been confirmed this past week.
HSH secured £5 million towards the build after long-held plans had been put on hold due to rising costs in the construction industry, while capacity reached a choking point in the town as supply chain demands changed post-Brexit.
Lewis Howard, publicity manager for Constellation’s 海角视频 arm, said: “Our cold store project has recently gone into the second round of tender negotiations. Subject to planning approval, we are expecting to start work in the first weeks of September.”
The deal for ACS&T created a business unit with 137,000 pallet positions in the 海角视频, with the majority in Grimsby and further operations in Redditch, Tewkesbury and Wolverhampton. The Europarc addition, set to create 60 new jobs, will add 30,000 more pallet positions to support a move from just-in-time delivery to desires to hold greater stock.
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It was the largest award in the inaugural grant, leading to Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer taking a sub-zero tour of existing Birchin Way operations to announce it.
The latest second phase saw fellow cluster operator Fastnet Fish secure £1.2 million to add further pallet capacity to storage on South Humberside Industrial Estate, within its existing footprint. New England Seafood International also received £3.8 million to support the overhaul and kit-out of neighbouring premises, also on Europarc, as it doubles its operations there. As reported, more than 140 jobs are being created as it ramps up to a November launch. Grimsby Fish Market-based Seafish Processing Ltd was also awarded £315,000 to expand processing, with additional premises under consideration.
It was a further £5 million boost to a sector buoyed by skills investments and emerging delivery with cluster organisation Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance and University of Lincoln forging a strong partnership.