The Waterline Summit is a free, week-long event and it is the ideal opportunity to learn more about how the Humber region is working towards a zero-carbon economy and what sustainable careers are in store for our future leaders.

Monday’s theme ‘Resilience and Adaption’ will focus on the solutions to be more resilient against the impacts of climate change on the environment, business and society.

Jo Barnes, Director at Yorkshire Energy Park, will be giving a webinar about the flagship scheme, which received the green light from planning committee back in November 2019, as part of Monday’s focus.

She said: “Yorkshire Energy Park is strategically situated at the heart of the UK Energy Estuary. Tackling the climate change agenda is intrinsic to our vision for the Park so we’re proud to support this very important event.

“We hope as many people as possible will join us and get involved in the Summit.”

This year’s event will be hosted online through a virtual conference centre, including a lobby, networking lounge, exhibition hall, auditorium, and art exhibition room. The virtual platform will allow attendees to browse exhibition stands, download valuable content and materials, attend webinars and network with both exhibitors and other attendees.

The Waterline Summit 2020 takes place from Monday, October 19, to Friday, October 23. To register for the event, please click here.

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.

The new development located on the former Hedon Aerodrome site on the outskirts of Hull, within the village of Preston South and to the west of Hedon, will create up to 4,480 jobs and attract significant inward investment from national and international companies.

An energy centre, data centre and disaster recovery suite, space to grow local businesses, and education, training and research facilities, will sit alongside associated short-stay accommodation, an outdoor building materials and testing facility, and brand new sports facilities for the community under the plans.

The energy park site will also include 45 hectares of green space, protected for 150 years, as an enhanced area for wintering birds, as well as an off-site wildlife habitat of a further 94 hectares.

Yorkshire Energy Park Project Director Claire Harrison 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 are glad the Committee recognised this today and approved the plans. We look forward to working with both local authorities, our partners, end users and, importantly, local residents in creating this flagship scheme for the Humber in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary.”

The location for the Yorkshire Energy Park is the only available site on the north bank of the Humber which has a natural gas supply of sufficient size and capacity already on the site, along with a National Grid connection in close proximity.

As a result, the park can provide clean, reliable energy at around 20% less than the market cost for businesses located on the park, and energy can also be sold back to the grid.

Because of this unique proposition, a number of multi-national and national brand names have announced their commitment to the scheme if planning permission is granted, including E.ON, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, and Legal & General.

Hull College Group, one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the country, and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick and one of the world’s leading education and research groups, have also backed the plans.

The proposed £200 million Yorkshire Energy Park will create up to 4,480 jobs both through the construction and operational periods of the development, which will attract significant inward investment in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary.

A total of 120 construction jobs are expected to be created each year, alongside 60 indirect jobs over a 10-year construction phase.

In addition, the team behind the energy park plans has committed to targeting 80% employment from the local area and will set apprenticeship targets through the supply chain to create long term job prospects for local young people.

Meanwhile, the full time equivalent jobs once the park is operational could be up to 2,090 across a range of sectors including manufacturing, electricity, gas and air conditioning, construction, transportation and storage, information and communication, real estate, education, administrative and support services, and finance and insurance.

While a report released last week recommends the scheme for refusal, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee will make a decision over whether the plans can go ahead Thursday, November 14.

The report states the proposals go against the Authority’s Local Plan, as the site isn’t allocated as employment development land. It also describes the development as “speculative” despite a raft of national and international brand names coming out in public support of the scheme and stating they will make the East Riding their next home, should Yorkshire Energy Park be given the go ahead.

Now, young people have shared their views on the energy park as they work towards their future goals and assess the potential opportunities available to them.

Max Hutchinson, 16, from Bridlington, is studying engineering manufacture, design, electronics, maths, English and science at Scarborough University Technical College (UTC) and said the Yorkshire Energy Park is a huge positive for the region.

He said: “The energy park is a good opportunity for young people to get jobs in the local area, rather than moving away and taking up a job somewhere else.

“I want to become an electrician and I think the energy park would open up a lot more opportunities for me.

“I would be really disappointed if it didn’t happen because it would take away the chance of thousands of jobs. It’s a really good thing for the area and something to look forward to.”

Plans for the proposed Yorkshire Energy Park on the former Hedon Aerodrome site have already received backing and interest from several multi-national and national businesses and brand names, as well as potential occupiers and investors.

This includes E.ON Germany, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, SSE, leading battery manufacturer BYD, leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality waste and recycling solutions Straight Manufacturing Ltd, and infrastructure funder Legal & General.

The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the region’s biggest business body, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Hull College Group have also announced their support for the development.

Abbi Fitzgerald, 17 from South Holderness, is currently studying engineering, maths, physics and art and hopes to go into engineering in the future.

She said: “The Yorkshire Energy Park would be a great addition to this region because there are not enough opportunities for future generations and it would give them more job prospects.

“At the moment, for me as an engineer, jobs are not available, so if I wanted to go into that area, I would have to move away. But with the Yorkshire Energy Park, I would be able to stay here.”

Reece Holme, 17, from Withernsea, is also studying engineering and said: “The energy park will be beneficial because it will create more job opportunities and it will bring more employers to the area.

“We have Siemens, which is good, but it would be great to have more companies offering opportunities through the energy park. We need more doors to be open in the future.”

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

If planning permission is granted, 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, and new sports facilities for the community.

Jack Hewison, 17, is studying biology, applied science and engineering, and hopes to secure a job in conservation in the future.

He said: “Wildlife has been carefully considered in the Yorkshire Energy Park plans.

“It is difficult to choose a career as a young person and I think the Yorkshire Energy Park will inspire people to choose a career in different industries.

“It will help keep people and skills in this area, rather than them travelling to work elsewhere, or moving away.”

Parents have also spoken out about the opportunities the Yorkshire Energy Park could bring.

Hedon resident Andy Hardy, who works as an electrician and has two young children, said the development will broaden employment horizons and provide a boost for the region.

He said: “A construction programme of this size will massively benefit people in both traditional trades and new industries.

“Living in Hedon, with a young family, I’m keen to see this area develop. Yorkshire Energy Park will create opportunities not just for my generation, but for my kids’ too.”

Under the Yorkshire Energy Park plans, a multi-million pound programme of improvements to the A1033 will be implemented, which will include additional lanes and signaling 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.

The site proposed for the development is the only available area on the north bank of the Humber where a presence of a significant connection to the National Grid exists, alongside a piped natural fuel supply already on the site. Due to this unique set up, reliable energy can be provided to businesses on the energy park at significantly less than market rates and energy can also be sold back to the Grid.

Less than half of the site is proposed for development, meaning more than 50% of 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 – proposals approved by Natural England, the public body which ensures the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed.

In addition, East Riding of Yorkshire Council will also benefit from £3.5m of business rates per year, once the park is fully operational.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether plans for the energy park development on the former Hedon Aerodrome site can go ahead – a decision which could create up to 4,480 jobs across a wide range of sectors if the green light is given.

Now, a number of new potential occupiers and investors have announced their support for the plans and, subject to planning approval, plan to make it their home, recognising the potential of resilient energy at circa 20% less than current market rates, alongside the education, research and development opportunities of the scheme.

Among the interested parties is leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality waste and recycling solutions Straight Manufacturing Ltd. Commercial heads of terms have also been agreed with a European prefabricated construction company and a battery manufacturing business, again subject to planning permission.

A letter of appointment has been signed with a project multi-utility provider and talks are underway with a Venture Capital Fund over the sale of two to three acres of the site to enable new energy businesses to grow.

Meanwhile, further enquiries from companies which are new to the Humber region have been received and letters of support from major businesses, groups and leading business figures in the region have been submitted.

Local residents are also predominantly in favour of the proposed development as illustrated by the planning portal letters (325 support vs 204 objections as of October 2019).

This support and interest comes after several multi-national and national brand names have already backed the plans. Major businesses already interested in what the energy park has to offer include E.ON Germany, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, SSE, leading battery manufacturer BYD, and infrastructure funder Legal & General, as well as the backing of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the region’s biggest business body, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Hull College Group.

Yorkshire Energy Park Project Director Claire Harrison said: “It is unusual for businesses to commit to a scheme ahead of a positive planning determination, so this support, both existing and new, shows how unique the Yorkshire Energy Park offer is and provides an indication of demand should the scheme secure planning permission in the coming weeks.

“The businesses committed to the development are coming to do more than just business.

“They are all keen to work with our education partners to develop future generations and, critically, they are committed to recruiting locally.”

Established more than 20 years ago, Straight Manufacturing Ltd is at the forefront of supplying inventive waste and recycling solutions, such as bins, reusable containers and garden products, to its customers across the UK.

Its current Hull site employs around 100 local people and the new and additional facility at the proposed Yorkshire Energy Park site would be of a similar size.

Straight Manufacturing Ltd is part of IPL Plastics Inc, a leading sustainable packaging solutions provider, managing packaging products worldwide in the food, consumer, agricultural, logistics and environmental end-markets, with its largest geographical markets in the UK, USA and Canada.

IPL’s operations include a network of 15 manufacturing facilities, seven corporate and sales offices, and four centres of excellence located in these countries, as well as Ireland, China and Mexico.

In a letter included as part of the updated planning documents, Stuart Butler, General Manager of Straight Manufacturing Ltd, said he wrote to express his “full support” for the Yorkshire Energy Park development.

Mr Butler said: “As part of the Group’s growth plans, we are seeking additional premises and have been in detailed dialogue with the developers at Yorkshire Energy Park to explore 75,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, with adjoining office space and external storage.

“Having explored several locations across the UK, we are keen to take advantage of the exclusive nature of the private wire agreement, opportunities for research and development, as well as the data infrastructure the Yorkshire Energy Park business park, will provide us with.

“We would welcome the opportunity to make the East Riding of Yorkshire our next business location, should the planning be approved.”

The Yorkshire Energy Park development, proposed by locally-based Sewell Group, Hessle-based communications company MS3 Networks and development company Chiltern Group, is situated in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary and will attract significant inward investment.

If planning permission is granted, 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, and new sports facilities for the community.

The site proposed for the development is the only available area on the north bank of the Humber where a presence of a significant connection to the National Grid exists, alongside a piped natural fuel supply already on the site. Due to this unique set up, reliable energy can be provided to businesses on the energy park at significantly less than market rates and energy can also be sold back to the Grid.

Under the plans, agreed with Highways England, a multi-million-pound programme of traffic improvements to the A1033, one of Hull’s main roads, will be implemented to mitigate any traffic generated by the development, which will include improvements to five junctions and road widening.

In addition to highways improvements, improved land drainage will be put in place, with the developed area of the Park storing enough surface water to withstand a one in 100-year rainfall event, as well as 40% climate change, through a network of ponds created on site.

The outline drainage strategy has been developed and approved with the Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Internal Drainage Board (IDB).

Less than half of the site is proposed for development, meaning more than 50% of green space will be retained, maintaining an almost half-mile gap between the development and Hedon, and a new 89-hectare wildlife area will provide an additional home for protected birds in a quiet grass and wetland habitat in the Sunk Island area of Holderness. These proposals are approved by Natural England, the public body that ensures the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed.

In addition, East Riding of Yorkshire Council will also benefit from £3.5m of business rates per year, once the park is fully operational.

The team behind the proposed Yorkshire Energy Park development, which is due to be heard at East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning committee within a matter of weeks, has revealed major traffic improvements and flood resilience measures that will be implemented if plans are approved.

The developers will be legally committed to deliver the multi-million-pound programme of improvements to the A1033, which will include additional lanes and signalling to five junctions. The improvements will be delivered before the full business park becomes operational.

Under the plans, new footpaths and cycle paths will be delivered to improve access to Preston South and Hedon, encouraging footfall to local shops and restaurants in a bid to increase trade. A financial contribution will also be made to upgrade the South Holderness Rail Trail, a cycle path which runs between Hull and Holderness.

In addition to the physical measures, a Travel Plan Coordinator will be appointed to actively monitor and act on transport assessments, run initiatives to encourage more sustainable methods of travel and establish a cycle user group, lift-sharing and walk to work schemes.

The latest points set out under the plans come as Highways England, the government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England’s motorways and major A roads, clarified its improved position for East Riding of Yorkshire Council to the proposed Yorkshire Energy Park.

In a letter on East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning portal, Highways England said: “It can be concluded that at this stage that the principles of what is trying to be secured for the application are appropriate.

“We are not currently in a position to formally lift our holding recommendation. However, we are sufficiently comfortable that the application can now be taken to the planning committee.”

This confirmation from Highways England means that the detailed conditions can be addressed after a planning committee decision is made, which is standard practice for schemes of this scale at an outline planning stage.

The letter from Highways England continues by saying: “Should the committee be minded to approve the application, it can then be deferred to officers to formally approve, who will then work towards agreeing on the Conditions and Section 106. Once these are agreed then Highways England will be in a position to replace the current holding recommendation with a recommendation that should planning permission be granted with conditions attached.”

In addition to highways improvements, improved land drainage will be put in place, with the developed area of the Park storing enough surface water to withstand a one in 100-year rainfall event, as well as 40% climate change, through a network of ponds created on site.

The outline drainage strategy has been developed and approved with the Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Internal Drainage Board (IDB).

The proposed development on the site of the former Hedon Aerodrome will attract significant inward investment, with the ability to create up to 4,480 jobs, including up to 2,090 full-time jobs across a wide range of business sectors once the Park is built and operational.

If planning permission is granted by East Riding of Yorkshire’s Council’s Planning Committee, Yorkshire Energy Park 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, and sports facilities for the community.

The clarification of Highways England’s position on the scheme follows Natural England’s formal withdrawal of its objection to the proposed scheme earlier this month. Natural England is the public body which ensures the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for present and future generations.

Claire Harrison, Project Director for Yorkshire Energy Park, said: “We fully acknowledge that any major development and job creation of this scale will inevitably increase traffic.

“We have worked with Highways England and both local authority teams for a number of years to ensure these plans are robust and do not have a negative impact on such a strategically important road network.

“The highways plans not only take into account the proposed Yorkshire Energy Park development, but also other potential developments which will bring increased traffic; they are futureproofed for at least seven years.”

The site proposed for the development of the Yorkshire Energy Park, which is in the heart of the UK’s Energy Estuary, is the only available area on the north bank of the Humber where a presence of a significant connection to the National Grid exists, alongside a piped natural fuel supply already on the site.

Due to this unique set up, reliable energy can be provided to businesses on the energy park at significantly less than market rates. Energy can also be sold back to the Grid.

Major businesses already interested in what the energy park has to offer include E.ON Germany, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, electric scooter consortium Eco Motion. Infrastructure funder Legal & General, has also come out in support of the scheme as well as the backing of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the region’s biggest business body, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), leading battery manufacturer BYD, SSE and Hull College Group.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council will also benefit from £3.5m of business rates per year, once the Park is fully operational.

The Yorkshire Energy Park scheme is expected to be determined by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee in the coming weeks.

An 89-hectare site has been secured in the Sunk Island area of Holderness to create a dedicated wetland habitat to support some of the Humber’s most precious and protected birds including Curlew, Goldern Plover and Lapwing. It will provide an additional habitat for the birds that currently visit the former Hedon Aerodrome site, which is proposed for development.

Plans also include improving and protecting part of their current habitat by dedicating 50% of the Aerodrome site to the east as part of the Yorkshire Energy Park proposals.

The consortium behind the Yorkshire Energy Park has been working with industry experts, Statutory bodies and interested parties for several years to put robust plans in place, to provide and protect suitable habitat for the wildlife.

The announcement comes as Natural England, the public body that ensures the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for present and future generations confirmed they have formally withdrawn their objection to the proposed scheme. In a letter on East Riding of Yorkshire’s planning portal, the organisation stated:

“Natural England is satisfied that the specific issues we have raised in previous correspondence relating to the development have been resolved. We therefore consider that the identified impacts on the Humber Estuary can be appropriately mitigated with measures secured via planning conditions or obligations as advised and withdraw our objection.”

Claire Harrison, Project Director for Yorkshire Energy Park said:

“We want to make sure all of the measures we’re proposing are as considered as they can be, including the proposals for the wildlife on the site to protect our internationally important natural environment

“Working alongside organisations such as Natural England and taking on board community views, we’ve adapted the masterplan to leave around half a mile of open space (45 hectares) for wildlife. The development itself is only 50% of the whole site and this is adjacent to the West, which is a preexisting industrial area.”

“This open space will be enhanced to create an improved habitat for protected species, and importantly, this area will be protected for 150 years, meaning the scheme cannot encroach towards Preston South and Hedon in the future.”

Ponds and wetland areas will be created on the site, along with bat boxes. The west of the site will include sympathetic landscaping designed to attract insects to benefit the local bat population, while places for newts to hibernate and breed will be created, and grass snakes will also benefit from the improvements.

A nature walk has also been included in the energy park plans, planted with native trees and flowers which benefit insects and bats.

Ms Harrison continued: “Alongside the measures on the Hedon Aerodrome site, we’re now progressing plans to create the wetland habitat at the Thorn Marsh site, as an additional home for the birds. A planning application for this has been submitted and we’ve been working closely with Natural England on these proposals.

“We will also involve local schools and the community in designing and installing ecological features, which can be developed into a wider education programme linked to green energy and protection of the environment.”

The Hedon Aerodrome site proposed for the development of Yorkshire Energy Park is the only available area on the north bank of the Humber where a presence of a significant connection to the National Grid exists, alongside a piped natural fuel supply already on the site.

Due to this unique set up, reliable energy can be provided to businesses on the Park at significantly less than markets rates. This has led to the development attracting multi-national and national brand names including E.ON, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, SSE, leading battery manufacturer BYD, and infrastructure funder Legal & General, as well as the backing of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the region’s biggest business body, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Hull College Group.

Yorkshire Energy Park will be a critical employment site in the Humber, creating up to 4480 jobs across a range of sectors. East Riding of Yorkshire Council will also benefit from £3.5m of business rates per year, once the Park is fully operational.

If planning permission is granted by East Riding of Yorkshire’s Council’s Planning Committee, the energy park 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, and sports facilities for the community.

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

The scheme is expected to be determined by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning committee within months.

The Yorkshire Energy Park is a potential new development located on the former Hedon Aerodrome site on the outskirts of Hull, within the village of Preston South, to the west of Hedon, and will create up to 4,480 jobs.

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

It will also include 45 hectares of green space, protected for 150 years for wildlife, as well as another 89 hectares of open space on a nearby site for wintering birds.

Plans for the Yorkshire Energy Park are expected to go before East Riding of Yorkshire’s Council’s Planning Committee in the coming months.

Tim Rix CBE has been involved in building the reputation of the Humber as the “Energy Estuary” in his capacity as Chairman of J.R. Rix & Sons, Vice Chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), former Chair of the Hull City Leadership Board and Chairman of the Green Port Growth Programme.

He said: “It is imperative that the Yorkshire Energy Park is supported and approved at planning so that this area is able to provide land and facilities to support the new, emerging industries that are keen to locate here and to employ people in our Humber area.

“If we cannot make new facilities available, we have all been wasting our time.”

The Yorkshire Energy Park is being proposed by locally-based Sewell Group, Hessle-based communications company MS3 Networks and development company Chiltern Group, and an outline planning application was submitted in May 2017.

The proposed location for the Yorkshire Energy Park is the only available site on the north bank of the Humber which has a natural gas supply of sufficient size and capacity already on the site, along with a National Grid connection in close proximity.

As a result, the park can provide clean, reliable energy at around 20% less than the market cost for businesses located on the park, and energy can also be sold back to the grid.

A number of multi-national and national brand names have shared their intention to be part of the scheme once planning is secured, including E.ON, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, and Legal & General.

Hull College Group, one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the country, and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick and one of the world’s leading education and research groups, have also backed the plans.

Education and training will be in place for local people to become trained in new industries, equipping them with the skills to take advantage of career opportunities at the Yorkshire Energy Park in the future.

Andy Parkinson, Chair of the Humber Bondholders, which markets the Humber on the national and international stage, called on key decision-makers to consider the energy park’s strategic importance to the local area.

He said: “The region is seeing unprecedented levels of inward investment and renewed confidence following a sustained period of economic decline during the last recession, which saw the Humber fall further behind to other competing economic centres around the UK.

“A cornerstone to the region’s renaissance has been the pursuit of new markets that have been created in the energy sector.

“We’ve already seen significant investment from Siemens and Orsted, the mobilisation of Energy Works and the recent announcement from Drax for their ambitious plans for carbon capture. This is alongside a range of other related energy supply chain developments all of which has given the Humber a platform to further grow its economy.

“The Yorkshire Energy Park is one of those opportunities.”

David Kilburn, Executive Chairman of MKM Building Supplies, said the energy park is “vital” for attracting local and international investment to the area.

He said: “We have a huge need for this kind of investment and I hope the economic benefits of it will be considered as part of the application.

“There will certainly be significant benefits both directly and indirectly to our local economy – a real opportunity not to be missed.”

Phil Ascough, former President of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, was part of the management team which led the Press Association’s (PA) move from Leeds to Howden in 2000 and said he believes the Yorkshire Energy Park could bring similar benefits.

He said: “What I saw was an inward investment which provided employment and training opportunities for hundreds of young people at a global centre of excellence and which transformed the fortunes of the business community in and around Howden.

“It generated much-increased volumes of trade for local retailers, food and beverage outlets, hotels, petrol stations, taxi operators and more.

“This, in turn, supported the regeneration of the town itself, as local firms expanded into refurbished premises and more businesses were attracted into the town.

“The economic revival of Howden even led to the railway station becoming a stopping point for Hull Trains.

“Now, I’m not suggesting for a minute that approving the energy park planning application would bring the railway back to Holderness. But I and my Chamber colleagues do feel it would trigger significant economic benefits at the development site with very lucrative spin-offs for the region as a whole.

“It would also send a clear message that our part of the world is open for business and ready to support businesses in taking a positive, creative and innovative approach to tackling current and future economic challenges.”

Support for the development has also come from Hull City Council Leader Stephen Brady OBE, former East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader and Deputy Chair of the Humber LEP Stephen Parnaby OBE, and former Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson.

The potential new development located on the former Hedon Aerodrome site on the outskirts of Hull, within the village of Preston South and to the west of Hedon, will create up to 4,480 jobs and attract significant inward investment from national and international companies.

An energy centre, data centre and disaster recovery suite, space to grow local businesses, and education, training and research facilities, will sit alongside associated short-stay accommodation, an outdoor building materials and testing facility, and brand new sports facilities for the community under the plans.

The energy park site will also include 45 hectares of green space, protected for 150 years, as an enhanced area for wintering birds, as well as an off-site wildlife habitat of a further 89 hectares.

Plans for the Yorkshire Energy Park are expected to go before East Riding of Yorkshire’s Council’s Planning Committee in the coming months to determine whether or not the development is given the green light to progress.

Claire Harrison, Yorkshire Energy Park Project Director, said: “We have worked in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the statutory agencies for three years to develop a scheme which maximises the benefits for local people, while being sympathetic to its surroundings.

“Alongside progressing the technical matters, we wanted to capture and share the vision for the park, and really bring to life the positive impacts it will have on our area.

“The video aims to showcase the range of career opportunities that will be available and the education and research facilities which will work hand in hand with the businesses, so local people can develop new skills and qualifications.

“It also shows how green the park will be, with tree lined walks and protected habitat for the wintering birds.”

The proposed location for the Yorkshire Energy Park is the only available site on the north bank of the Humber which has a natural gas supply of sufficient size and capacity already on the site, along with a National Grid connection in close proximity.

As a result, the park can provide clean, reliable energy at around 20% less than the market cost for businesses located on the park, and energy can also be sold back to the grid.

Because of this unique proposition, a number of multi-national and national brand names have announced their commitment to the scheme if planning permission is granted, including E.ON, Asanti Data Centres, Dell, and Legal & General.

Hull College Group, one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the country, and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick and one of the world’s leading education and research groups, have also backed the plans.

Lord Christopher Haskins, Chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said the energy park has the organisation’s “full support”.

It comes as the Humber LEP recently launched its prospectus for a Humber Industrial Strategy, including its ambition to decarbonise the Humber by 2040 and for the Humber Energy Estuary to be a global leader in clean energy generation.

It is also leading a consultation on its priorities for the future development of the Humber, involving businesses and other organisations with a stake in its success by the end of July, and agreeing its industrial strategy later in 2019.

Lord Haskins said: “I would like to reiterate the LEP’s full support for the Yorkshire Energy Park’s proposals.

“Its strategic fit to the LEP’s strategic economic plan and to the Government’s Industrial Strategy White Paper, along with its scale and potential to make an exponential difference to our region’s Energy Estuary ambitions, becoming a real presence within the Northern Powerhouse discussions, make it worthy of our full support.

“Although not originally in the latest East Riding Local Plan as employment land, the site has a massive inherent advantage as it has both a gas supply crossing it and an entrance point to the National Grid in close proximity, enabling the generation of clean electricity on site at a cost up to 20 per cent less than market.

“It is perfect for those businesses with high energy requirements who need a constant, resilient and cost-effective supply of electricity and heat, such as highly-automated businesses, certain manufacturing firms and data centres.

“The site is unique in the Humber and will give the area a major advantage over competing areas.

“To not consider it viable employment land, given the competitive advantage it could offer, would be a travesty.”