Contractor appointed to build Yorkshire blade factory

Siemens today announced it had appointed leading UK contractor VolkerFitzpatrick to build its wind turbine blade factory in Hull.

Civil engineering and construction firm VolkerFitzpatrick will start building the factory at Alexandra Dock next month, with the first blades ready to be shipped to the Race Bank wind farm, off Norfolk, in early 2017. Around 200 jobs will be created during construction.

The huge 75m blades will be built there and wind turbine components will be assembled, maintained and stored on the site, before being shipped out.

Shaun Cray, Siemens’ General Manager, Real Estate and Construction, for the Hull project, said the firm, the UK arm of Dutch-based VolkerWessels, had been chosen from an exceptionally strong shortlist. It had committed to a “significant” proportion of local and regional suppliers and sub-contractors, with the entire supply chain within the UK.

He said: “In addition, they have a strong record of performance with Siemens, having delivered rail depot projects for us in the UK. We can trust them to deliver a facility of the highest quality on time and on budget.”

VolkerFitzpatrick is currently working in Hull to strengthen the Albert Dock wall and on flood defences in Cleethorpes and Grimsby, following the tidal surge.

VolkerFitzpatrick said they aimed to employ 40 per cent of total labour within a 50-mile radius with 25 per cent from within a 20-mile radius.

Siemens’ Hull Project Director Finbarr Dowling said: “People will soon see steel rising from the ground and be able to observe our progress as this state-of-the-art facility takes shape.”

The £310m joint investment between Siemens and Associated British Ports will create 1,000 jobs.