The Port of Blyth and the Northumberland development group Arch are launching a new initiative called Energy Central, which is looking to attract investment from offshore industries in almost 200 hectares of land with quayside access in the northeast UK.
The sites across the Blyth estuary are aimed at offshore energy businesses looking to relocate and grow in Northumberland.
They include four vacant sites – Northumberland Energy Park, Bates Terminal and Wimbourne Quays, Dun Cow Quay and Commissioners Quay – with enterprise zone status offering financial incentives, as well as established sites at South Harbour and Battleship Wharf.
As well as the sites, Energy Central also includes the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, a Port training centre and several research facilities at Newcastle’s universities .
Energy Central has already secured £30m of government funding.
Some £25m of this finance will support a programme of remediation and reclamation to prepare the first phase of the Northumberland energy park and improve dock access capabilities.
Port of Blyth chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “Energy Central offers an ideal location for companies looking for access to markets including offshore wind energy assets in the North Sea.”
Energy Central will be officially launched at the Global Offshore Wind 2017 event in London which runs from from 6 to 8 June.
Image: site of Northumberland energy park (Arch)
Blyth seeks investors
Energy Central initiative offers 200 hectares of land with quayside access
By EBS