Work begins on a £9 million drainage scheme to open up the South Humber Bank for further development next month.
The Killingholme Marshes Drainage Scheme is a public and private-funded scheme, with almost half the cash coming from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, announced last August and now confirmed through Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
At the heart sits a new pumping station - to be adopted by North East Lindsey Drainage Board - which will then be responsible for its ongoing maintenance.
A major beneficiary will be Able Marine Energy Park - the recent recipient of £75 million from government to help facilitate the huge acceleration of offshore wind - with C.Ro’s Humber Sea Terminal, the Ministry of Defence’s South Killingholme Jetty, the CLH Pipeline System in the zone, Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, Benton Transport, Network Rail, property firm Bethany Jayne, North Lincolnshire Council and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust also protected - with 1,500 jobs secured.
“The South Humber Bank is strategically important to the region and the 海角视频 economy as a whole, and this project is vital to the future development of the area,” said Pat Doody, LEP chair.
“It will create a pumping station and other new drainage infrastructure to facilitate further development of the South Humber Bank, which forms the largest area of any enterprise zone in the 海角视频 as well as an important element of the recently successful Humber Freeport bid.
“The scheme will prevent future flooding of industrial land and property, ensuring that established businesses can remain and enable more inward investment on the South Humber Bank in the future.”
Fresh from the huge Budget boost, Able 海角视频 executive chairman Peter Stephenson described it as “a vital part of the jigsaw and great example of local support”.
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The offshore wind sector is on the cusp of something very special,” he reiterated. “We have clear and unambiguous policy from Whitehall through the sector deal and the increasingly demanding targets for both power generation and the extent of 海角视频 context – there is an unparalleled level of market visibility.
“Combine this with the sector’s extraordinary efforts in terms of developing new products and significantly reducing costs, and the sector is set to become a dominant factor in a post-Covid-19 海角视频 economy.
“Confirmation of this Government funding, and of course the recently announced support in connection with the BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme, will see Able Marine Energy Park play a vital role in the process to put the Humber at the very heart of this dynamic sector.”
April will see work begin, a factor welcomed by Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council.
Millions of tonnes of hardstanding has been laid to strengthen the land close to the huge quay development - aided by a £15 million cash injection in early 2015 - now works beyond will provide protection from climate change as it attracts the businesses who aim to help mitigate it.
Cllr Waltham said: “The approval of this funding means vital infrastructure work can begin to enable the development of the new port facility in North Lincolnshire and ensure that homes are protected at the same time.
“This Government cash is further investment that will unlock skills, jobs and investment, helping to transform the local economy – though it should be recognised for its significance regionally, nationally and internationally.
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“This project provides a significant opportunity towards attracting and retaining highly skilled jobs to the area and will be a key driver for economic growth and prosperity for decades to come.”
Constituency MP Martin Vickers also welcomed the “substantial grant for a much needed drainage scheme” that “will allow for the further developments in the area which will help the 海角视频 pursue its ambition to be the ‘Saudi Arabia of Wind’, creating many more skilled jobs for local people.”