Humber project to deliver 5000 jobs

Teesside, UK - Able UK Ltd, which has already completed the first phase of its Able Humber Port Facility (AHPF), is now putting forward proposals for land north of Immingham which, it said, will eventually create around 5,000 jobs on the South Humber Bank.

The proposals include plans for developments designed to provide the services needed for the continuing development of what, Able said, has been the UK’s fastest growing ports and logistics centre. These include the creation of transport depots, warehousing and external storage areas, together with offices, a business park and a motel.

The land, which is the largest site available for port-related developments in the UK, is earmarked for industrial use in the Local Plan. The proposals have been the subject of public consultation, as well as discussions with the statutory authorities, local business community, Yorkshire Forward and environmental and wildlife interests.

The Teesside company's executive chairman Peter Stephenson said: “We have been developing our interests in the area over the past decade and share the views of central government, Yorkshire Forward, North Lincolnshire Council, and the newly created South Humber Gateway Board that development of the South Humber Bank is of national and international importance.

“Already, for example, it is the location of the UK’s largest port, complex, home to over a quarter of the UK’s refinery capacity, and is very much the preferred investment location for an increasing number of potential clients. We are able to offer a big space in the right place and even in current economic circumstances we are handling a number of exciting enquiries."

Stephenson said Able had already demonstrated confidence in the potential of the South Humber through its £50-million investment in the existing ‘south' Able Humber Ports Facility. The company, he said, intends to invest a further £100million into the development of the ‘north’ facility and the overall investment coming into the area is likely to be the region of £1.5billion and 5,000 jobs created by the time the project is completed in 2020.

ABLE promotes redevelopment for uses including residential, commercial, retail, leisure and light or heavy industry and vehicle storage. It also specialises in the acquisition of large redundant, dirty and contaminated facilities such as power stations, oil, gas and petrochemical installations, including the disposal of radiation and mercury contaminated materials.

The company operates four facilities on the River Tees, two which have been developed to receive and dispose of marine related structures and ships. The largest facility, known as the Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC), Hartlepool, was acquired in 1996 and has been developed to receive ships and the majority of offshore structures scheduled to be decommissioned from the British and Continental offshore sectors.

The facility also serves as a multi-user centre for the fabrication, fitting out, repairs and modifications of offshore and marine structures - FPSOs, semi-submersibles, spars, GBSs, jackets, concrete tunnel sections, etc.