City makes bid for Enterprise Zone boost

The 600 acres includes the site at Alexandra Dock which Siemens has earmarked for a wind turbine factory, but also the former maternity hospital site, old Humbrol factory site and land at Paull.

If approved the area should prove attractive to business because of tax breaks and simplified planning rules.

Landowners are primarily Associated British Ports and the local authorities.

The expression of interest, which has been submitted to the Government, incorporates an area greater than the suggested limit of 370 acres, but its backers, the Hull, East Riding and Scarborough Shadow Local Enterprise Partnership, argue it is needed to match potential development coming in on the back of the Siemens factory.

They argue: “Creating the critical mass around the development with lower opportunity costs for supply chain investors will create new jobs in a city with one of the lowest employment rates in the country.”

A letter from Howard O’Neill, president of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce says granting the zone would send a message to overseas investors “that we are serious about developing this sector here and can provide a better environment than our competitors on the continent.”