A MAJOR milestone in North East Lincolnshire’s industrial transformation was taken this week as work started on a multi-million-pound build at the new Stallingborough Business Park.
With flagship tenants, booming Lincolnshire firm myenergi, relocating to the new building the groundworks have begun on the 15,500 sqft light industrial unit.
Delighted regeneration chiefs at North East Lincolnshire Council, and its regeneration partner ENGIE, have been working with myenergi for months to ensure the building met the firm’s needs and planning permission was granted last December.
It will comprise of office space, with capacity for product development and research. There is also an option to build an adjoining large production area and warehouse, to meet myenergi’s ambitious plans to double its workforce to 120 people by 2021.
“By 2021 we are looking to a staff of between 100 and 120, from our current 60 and these jobs will not just be for the product itself, but in HR, marketing, sales and technical expertise. It’s such a huge opportunity,” said Jordan Brompton, who co-founded myenergi, alongside Managing Director Lee Sutton.
The firm, behind electric vehicle charging and smart supply energy solutions, is currently based in Binbrook. It will be temporarily moving into the old Wickes premises on Alexandra Retail Park, Grimsby, awaiting completion of the new HQ, which is due in the early summer of next year.
North East Lincolnshire’s Head of Regeneration, Cllr John Fenty said the start on site was evidence of the authority’s continued commitment to transforming North East Lincolnshire’s fortunes for the next generation, using its £42-million SHIIP (South Humber Industrial Investment Programme) as the driver.
SHIIP it is the most ambitious industrial project in North East Lincolnshire’s history. Funded by a blend of council investment and grants, it comprises of the new Business Park and A1173 highway improvements, a new £8m link road on the South Humber Bank, and the creation of a unique and award-winning wildlife mitigation site.
“We have to be bold, innovative and brave if we are to grow as an area and I am delighted that this project is finally hitting the ground. The whole SHIIP programme is incredibly important in terms of bringing local jobs to local people and this will provide the first tangible results. We’ve a long way to go to make sure that the business park fulfils its potential, but with this building being constructed with a tenant already secured, I’m sure others will follow,” said Cllr Fenty.
This first building is being constructed with the aid of £950k from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse, to build a flagship building on the site. This will create in excess of 80 jobs, and will attract more investment to the area
Interim Chair of the Humber LEP, Stephen Parnaby OBE, said: “We are very pleased to be allocating this funding towards a facility that will help to establish advanced engineering manufacturing in Stallingborough.
“The manufacturing sector is one of huge importance to our region – and is an area we have highlighted in our Humber Industrial Strategy as essential to the future growth of the region. We hope this unit not only provides jobs for local people as the project is completed, but also helps to attract further businesses to the Stallingborough site.”
Geo Houlton, a Hull based company, won the competitive tender to build the unit for North East Lincolnshire Council. Founded in Hull in 1879, Houlton employs more than 130 staff, and has completed many projects throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Andrew Kingston, Managing Director of Geo Houlton, said: “We are delighted to be working with North East Lincolnshire Council to deliver this project. The project is part of a wider scheme to regenerate Stallingborough Interchange, creating around 3000 jobs so we are extremely proud to have been selected by the authority to play a part in delivering their long-term objective.”
Meanwhile, plans are in their final stages for the next phase of improvement works to the A1173 with a new roundabout providing access to the business park. Further details will be released shortly.
Article and image from NELC.
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