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One of biggest port-related developments in UK approved by council

North Lincolnshire Council has approved plans by Able UK Ltd to build a £100 million logistics park on the South Humber Gateway. The development will generate over 5,000 jobs and could attract £1.5 billion in further investment.

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, commented: "This is a major breakthrough and marks the first step to attracting further investment on the South Humber Gateway. The site is the fastest growing ports and logistics centre in the country and has the potential to be Europe's leader in renewable energy."

The project, led by Able UK Ltd, covers nearly 1,000 acres, and will create transport depots, warehousing, external storage areas, offices, a business park, a motel, and energy developments - on land at East Halton in North Lincolnshire.

Cllr Redfern continued, "This application is vital to ensuring the continuing development of the South Humber Gateway and I'm delighted that consent has been given. I cannot stress enough what a major achievement it is that we have managed to balance the needs of nature conservation and development with a large part of the site to be used for landscaping and habitat creation, and balanced with the creation of more than 5,000 jobs with over half of those being manufacturing jobs, is wonderful. This is fantastic news. It is what this area needs and deserves."

The development should open the flood gates for further investment into the South Humber Gateway, with the potential to bring in £1.5 billion indirect investment and provide 5,363 new jobs, including approximately 327 construction jobs.

"This will put this region on the map for the right reasons and prove that North Lincolnshire is the place for future investment and growth and for job opportunities," added Cllr Redfern.

Contact North Lincolnshire Council or Able UK Ltd for more information about the logistics park.

Offshore wind investment triggers 5,100 new jobs on the South Humber Gateway

Able UK, a major North-East company and land-owner on the South Humber Gateway, has announced £400m plans for a 1,630 metre quay at the South Humber Gateway. The quay will be one of the largest in the UK and will make the Humber the centre of the UK's offshore wind industry.

The investment in a prestigious Marine Energy Park is a direct result of the Government's Round 3 Offshore wind licences.

Because of sailing times to the offshore wind sites, the Humber has a major competitive edge over any of its rivals, in the UK and mainland Europe. The South Humber Gateway site also scores highly due to the size of the land available and its access to the last undeveloped deep-water channel in the UK.

The sheer scale of investment in the quay itself and on the part of the offshore wind operators and supply companies will, if approved, easily surpass anything seen on the Humber, on either bank, for at least the last 50 years. It is that significant and key to the area’s economy.

It could transform the economies of both banks on to a trajectory not seen before - bringing quality, well-paid jobs. North Lincolnshire Council is working on the assumption that this, if finally approved, has the potential to create 5,100 direct jobs on the South Humber Gateway. This takes no account of indirect jobs both in the Humber and beyond.

Work on the design of the quay is well under way. It is hoped that approval for the large-scale infrastructure project, from the successor to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), will be forthcoming by March 2012. If this timescale is met, it is hoped construction on the quay will be complete by summer 2015.

The announcement marks the start of informal consultation by Able UK, on the proposed quay with a wide range of organisations, government departments, regulatory bodies, and individuals.

For more information visit the council's website www.northlincs.gov.uk

Choice Based Lettings scheme now live

North Lincolnshire Council has been working with housing partners across Northern Lincolnshire to develop a Choice Based Letting (CBL) scheme to bring the two councils and various housing associations together to jointly advertise social homes available for rent. The Northern Lincolnshire CBL scheme is known as Home Choice Lincs.

The process is a fair and clear way of allocating homes. The scheme gives home seekers more choice and information about homes that may be available to them throughout the whole of Northern Lincolnshire offering better opportunities to find a home.

For more information visit www.homechoicelincs.org.uk

Local Development Framework under development

North Lincolnshire Council’s Spatial Planning team are leading on the development of North Lincolnshire’s Local Development Framework (LDF), which helps shape the future of North Lincolnshire’s towns, villages and countryside for the next 10 to 20 years. The LDF will form the basis for any planning decisions made for North Lincolnshire.

There are numerous components of the LDF, details of which are provided below. However it is important to note that the development and implementation of these documents may be subject to change as a result of legislative changes to the planning system. For the latest information about this please contact the Spatial Planning Team on 01724 297573/297577, e-mail spatial.planning@northlincs.gov.uk or visit www.northlincs.gov.uk

Key components of the LDF:

Core Strategy
The Core Strategy is the key document at the heart of the Local Development Framework. It sets out the long term spatial planning framework for the development of North Lincolnshire up to 2026 by providing strategic policies and guidance to deliver the vision for the area. It has a key role in helping to deliver key transformational projects such the South Humber Gateway and the Lincolnshire Lakes.

The Core Strategy sets out how much development will take place and where it will be located as well as the provision of infrastructure to support it and the protection of our natural and built environment. It also helps to ensure that investment decisions are not made in isolation, but are properly co-ordinated with a strong focus on the principles of sustainable development.

Work is well advanced on the Core Strategy. It has already gone through two rounds of widespread consultation with the community and other important stakeholders. The final draft version of the Core Strategy is now being prepared and will be published for a final round of public and stakeholder consultation in May/June 2010. After the consultation it will be submitted to the Government for independent examination in August 2010. The independent examination is anticipated to take place in December 2010, with final adoption in summer 2011.

Housing and Employment Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD)
This will set out where new housing should be built and where new employment opportunities will be located. It also covers future settlement development limits and sites for gypsies and travellers.

During consultation of the Issues and Options stage (October/November 2007) 2,500 comments were received with an extra 250 sites put forward. A further consultation on Additional Issues and Options for Gypsy and Traveller Sites (August/September 2008) received over 1,000 comments. The second round of pre-submission consultation on the overall Housing and Employment Land Allocations DPD took place between mid January and early March 2009, attracting around 1,500 comments.

These comments are now being used to inform the final draft DPD which will be published for consultation in autumn 2010 prior to its submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination in Spring 2011. A revised Proposals Map will accompany it.

A number of other Development Plan Documents will also be developed over the next few years. These are:

Lincolnshire Lakes Area Action Plan
This document will define the Lincolnshire Lakes area and will set out a masterplan for its development including the allocation of land for a range of land uses including housing, leisure, recreation, business, nature conservation and transport/access arrangements.

Minerals & Waste DPD
This document sets out the detailed policies and proposals for the safeguarding, extraction and use of minerals and the sustainable management of waste. It will identify the key locations to be safeguarded as future mineral resources and will promote their sustainable use. Early stages of work on this document has started, with the first round of public and stakeholder consultation due to take place in July/August 2010.

General Policies (New Development Plan Document)
This document will set out detailed policies and designations for those matters not being considered in the Housing & Employment Land Allocations or Minerals & Waste Development Plan Documents. These will include environmental and landscape designations as well as areas of protected open space. It will also contain more detailed policies for Development Management.

Crowle Market Place redevelopment officially opened

Major renaissance work has completed in Crowle which has transformed the town’s market place to improve the long-term economic, social and environmental future of the town.

The redevelopment of Crowle Market Place forms part of Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Market Towns Programme, and is being directed by the Crowle Market Place Delivery Group.

As part of Phase 1 of the programme a feasibility study for the redevelopment has taken place, and a CCTV network is now in operation around the Market Place managed by Crowle Town Council. Three properties on the adjoining Johnsons Lane have been acquired, which will be used to build a property and land portfolio for the redevelopment work.

Consultants Bauman Lyons Architects Ltd finalised designs for the market place following extensive consultation with residents and businesses. The redevelopment plans included:

· Changes to the layout of the road network to create an easier flow of traffic, including a proposed new road linking the market place directly to the north of the town ensuring the market place can be used safely by both vehicles and pedestrians
· Bus stops to be relocated – the north-bound route would still stop in the market place but the south-bound route would link the extended market place with Crowle’s medical centre, library and local link`
· A new bistro/café in the market place, including an area for outside seating
· The relocation of the public toilets to provide more open space in the market place
· An overall increase in parking spaces.

Phase 2 of the Crowle Market Place redevelopment scheme includes further acquisitions that will create a new economic corridor of opportunity along the North side of the Market Place and expanding the commercial centre along the newly created access road.

New development opportunities are available for a large convenience store (3,000 sq ft) along with small business units and office space. In-keeping with the current mixed use of the Market Place, there are development opportunities for residential accommodation on the second and third floors.

Lincolnshire Lakes development progress

The Lincolnshire Lakes project, which aims to create a major new sustainable waterside neighbourhood on the Western fringe of Scunthorpe, is identified within the Scunthorpe Strategic Development Framework (SDF) as a key component in the transformation of the town. Through the development of a number of lakes, the creation of quality housing and employment space, and opportunities for leisure sport and recreation all set in an ecologically sound environment.

Consultants, Halcrow Group Limited produced a feasibility study, which revealed that the scheme is both technically and financially feasible to deliver. The Study, funded by Yorkshire Forward as part of its Renaissance Towns and Cities Programme, assessed economic, transport, legal, environmental, and planning issues, and outlined development scenarios for housing, employment, sustainable power generation, recreation and tourism.

Since being given the green light to progress with this project following the completion of the Feasibility Study, North Lincolnshire Council has been working closely with the Environment Agency to alleviate concerns about flood risk. A Sequential Test and subsequent Exceptions Test have also been carried out by the council and Halcrow to illustrate that that the proposed Lincolnshire Lakes area is the most appropriate site for a development of this nature in North Lincolnshire. Progressing further still with this flagship project, an Area Action Plan will provide the opportunity to work up a masterplan and delivery timelines for the project whilst setting in place development principles for the delivery of the scheme.

Scunthorpe town centre development

North Lincolnshire Council is looking to work with serious developers and investors to create a natural town centre extension. With the right partners on board, the council will put forward its prime town centre land, which has never previously been available for commercial use.

Exciting new developments, coupled with an increasing population, growing visitor numbers and a strong business economy make Scunthorpe the prime location for town centre investment.

Scunthorpe’s redevelopment will cater for the growing North Lincolnshire and will reinforce the town’s role as North Lincolnshire’s urban heart and prominence as the area’s main retailing hub.

Exclusive new opportunities are available in Scunthorpe for:
 

• ­Retail developments
• Restaurants, brasseries and café bars
• A town centre boutique hotel
• Commercial office accommodation

For more information or to speak to a member of the team, please contact the Economic Development Team, North Lincolnshire Council on:
Tel: 01724 297330
Email: businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk
Web: www.northlincs.gov.uk
 

The Pods and Central Park reinvigoration

North Lincolnshire Council has officially opened a new sports facility to provide high quality sports provision for Scunthorpe, which will establish the town as a first class leisure destination.

Through the provision of modern sporting and leisure facilities such as a 25m swimming pool, state of the art gym, and dance studio, The Pods sports complex will become a centre of excellence for sports, recreation and a hub for the development and delivery of sports education and leadership training.

In addition to extensive landscaping improvements including the planting of new trees and the enhancement of the existing boulevard through the park, Central Park will also see new and improved play facilities alongside a refurbished fountain. 

Images of The Pods and the plans for Central Park can be viewed at www.northlincs.gov.uk

South Humber Gateway progresses

The South Humber Bank has been renamed the ‘South Humber Gateway’ (SHG) to more accurately reflect its strategic importance to both the wider region and potential investors.

The SHG is one of the most exciting strategic development locations in the Yorkshire & Humber region. With almost 1,000 hectares – nearly four square miles – of development land, work is either under way or at an advance stage to the value in excess of £2bn. There is now the very real prospect of creating upwards of 15,000 new quality jobs in the next 10 years.

The ‘Killingholme Marshes Drainage Improvement Scheme’ has recently been approved be Yorkshire Forward’s board for capital funding. The scheme, costing £5m, will receive £3.8m of Yorkshire Forward funds and the balance will be provided by the private sector. This is exciting news as it will mean this large area of land adjacent to a deep channel on the River Humber and central to the SHG potential, can be developed.

Drax has applied for planning permission for its Heron Renewable Energy Plant on the SHG. This planned biomass power station is a joint venture between Drax and Siemens. The plant will represent an investment in excess of £600m. It would create around 850 construction jobs and 150 local jobs. This plant will provide the greater part of the 2020 renewable energy obligation for Yorkshire and Humber.

The option for the A160 road improvement scheme to the Port of Immingham has been announced and completion brought forward by a year such in the importance and value of this vital scheme to the regional and national economies. It will help enormously the SHG to realise its undoubted potential. The A160 carries around 13,000 vehicles a day (5,700 of which are HGVs), and by 2030, the 13,000 figure is set to rise to 22,000.

ConocoPhillips has completed the expansion of its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant and is now capable of producing nearly 1.2GW of power – making it one the largest and most energy efficient CHPs in the world.

What can ‘t be denied, is that investor interest in the SHG has never been greater, which makes it essential everyone together to transform the SHG into the UK’s Northern global gateway.