Hopes raised of attracting green energy firm

East Riding Council is in discussion with “several” firms interested in developing the 200-acre site at Paull, to the east of Hull.

The council is going through a fast-track process to grant planning permission for the “manufacture, assembly, coating and machining associated with the renewable energy industry” on the site, currently agricultural land, east of Hedon Haven.

Discussions took place last year with an offshore wind manufacturer interested in building the 100-metre steel towers on the site, which will be needed for the new 6MW turbines, set to be built in Hull by Siemens.

However East Riding Council’s director of planning and economic regeneration Alan Menzies said a development didn’t necessarily hinge on Siemens coming to Hull.

The council’s Cabinet will discuss making the local development order - the equivalent of outline planning permission - for the site - part of the Local Enterprise Zone and owned by port operator Associated British Ports - this morning.

The Secretary of State would need to give the go-ahead for the order before it can be adopted by the council, and details of any plan will have to come to the planning committee for final sign-off.

Mr Menzies said: “There are a number of inquiries which we are dealing with in relation to potential inward investment. Sites with that good a relationship with the port are in very short supply. We are very optimistic that if the local development order is approved both by the council and the Secretary of State that significant investment will come forward.”

Ward councillor for South West Holderness, Coun John Dennis, said they accepted the Enterprise Zone land being developed - but were concerned about ABP’s plans for 400 additional acres, which would “swallow up” the buffer between Hull and Hedon. The land and the old Hedon airfield site, which is owned by Hull Council, have been put forward for development. Coun Dennis said building hundreds of thousands of square feet of factory space and roads “gives us concern on the flooding front and also about the loss of identity to the town of Hedon.”