Hull City Council has granted planning permission for a scheme to develop new wind turbine production and installation facilities at Alexandra Dock, Green Port Hull, allowing work to get under way later this year on the £310M project.
A contract worth £90M to carry out a three year package of works at the site is expected to be awarded shortly by developers Siemens and Associated British Ports (ABP).
The project will involve construction of the new factory at Green Port Hull in addition to associated port facilities, including a 600m long quay on the River Humber. The new plant will make generators and other component parts for Round 3 offshore wind farm projects in the North Sea.
As part of the project a new rotor blade manufacturing facility will also be built in Paull, near Hull. The developers aim to submit planning applications for these additional works later in 2014.
The two sites will create 1,000 new jobs and several hundred roles during construction. Green Port Hull is to be operational by early 2016 and production at Paull is to be achieved by early 2016 with full production in 2017.
Siemens project director for Hull Finbarr Dowling said: “We are delighted that the plans for Alexandra Dock have been approved today by Hull City Council. These works represent an important step in the overall programme which will be progressed in coming months and years.
“This is a key project for the region, for the UK wind industry and for the UK in helping to deliver the future low carbon economy.”
Councillor Steven Brady from Hull City Council said: “We are working closely with Siemens to ensure that the benefits from this landmark investment are maximised in terms of increased business activity and high quality employment.”
