UK Government gives flagship energy scheme the green light

Plans for a £200m energy park have been given the go-ahead from Government this afternoon.

The Yorkshire Energy Park, which will create up to 4,480 jobs, was approved by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee on 14th November last year.

However, despite a significant amount of community support and the backing of several multi-national and national businesses, the scheme was subject to a potential Government call in from the Secretary of State.

Six months on from the initial approval, a letter issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has today confirmed that the Secretary of State has given the scheme the green light.

The news was welcomed by Stephen Parnaby OBE, Interim Chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, who has supported the scheme from its infancy. He 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 announced earlier this week 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.”

Energy will be generated at the Yorkshire Energy Park providing savings of up to 20% against the market rates for its tenants, alongside data resilience and superfast broadband. The compelling offer has attracted significant interest from both funders and tenants, nationally and internationally.

The Yorkshire Energy Park development is proposed by locally-based Sewell Group, Hessle-based communications company MS3 Networks and development company Chiltern Group.

It will include an energy centre, data centre and disaster recovery suite, space for established and start-up businesses, education, training and research facilities alongside associated short-stay accommodation, an outdoor building materials and testing facility, manufacturing facilities and new sports facilities for the community.

Claire Harrison, Project Director for the scheme said:

“We have wholeheartedly believed in the Yorkshire Energy Park development for four years. We have listened, responded and worked incredibly hard to develop a scheme which benefits the community and everyone involved.

“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.”

Under the Yorkshire Energy Park plans, a multi-million-pound programme of improvements to the A1033 will also be implemented, which will include additional lanes and signalling to five junctions, delivered before the full business park becomes operational. New footpaths and cycle paths will also be delivered to improve access to Preston South and Hedon and measures have also been put in place to mitigate flood risk.

Less than half of the site is proposed for development, meaning more than 50% of the green space will be retained, maintaining an almost half-mile gap between the development and Hedon.

A new 89-hectare wildlife area will provide an extra home for protected birds in a quiet grass and wetland habitat in the Sunk Island area of Holderness under proposals approved by Natural England, the public body which ensures the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed.

For more information on the scheme, please visit: http://yorkshire-energy-park.co.uk/