The Freeport at Immingham Port has been given the all-clear to launch next month after confirmation from the Chancellor as part of the autumn Budget.
Together with Teesside and Thames sites, the Humber Freeport will act as a magnet for net zero and manufacturing investors.
A total of 7,000 jobs could be created as part of the opportunity, with custom zones locations across the area, including the four main ports, and three new tax sites located east of the Port of Hull, Goole and Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme.
At launch, the Freeport will include two tax sites – at Humber Southbank and at East Hull.
The Humber Southbank site includes the Port of Immingham and Able Marine Energy Park, while East Hull comprises: the Port of Hull and Siemens Gamesa’s wind blade manufacturing facility, Saltend; the Humber International Enterprise Park; and the Yorkshire Energy Park.
Significant seed capital resources to ensure the benefits of Freeport status are felt across all four Humber local authority areas, including at the South Humber Industrial Investment Project site between Grimsby and Immingham, are also part of the successful bid.
Port director Simon Bird said:
The opportunities the Freeport will bring, with two tax zones approved and a third which will come through, are fantastic and enable us to go on with all that decarbonisation offers to the North and South Bank through offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture, alongside the manufacturing.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council who will act as the accountable body for the Freeport, said:
The Government backing is a huge step forward, and through the Freeport work, will provide long-term opportunities for jobs and growth.
We all need to play our part to decarbonise our whole UK economy, and the Humber bid will be supportive of schemes and projects that do just that – a great bonus for North East Lincolnshire that’s already leading the way in offshore wind.
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