Frimley, 2015-Jun-03
Siemens Hull blade factory planning approval granted, June 2015
Please note this release has been superseded by a new release: 07.07.2015 - Siemens publishes details of Hull jobs ahead of major recruitment drive
The committee gave consent, subject to conditions on technical details, for the development on Hull’s Alexandra Dock. Two related applications for the site were well received on consultation, attracting positive responses to the proposals.
Planning approval was granted for:
- Construction of a 39,600sqm factory at the western side of Alexandra Dock for the manufacture of 75m turbine blades and the assembly, maintenance, storage and distribution of wind turbine components.
- Office accommodation and welfare facilities.
- Development of open and covered areas for the storage, handling, assembly and testing of wind turbine components.
- Construction of a 12,300sqm building at the south east corner of the site for the ongoing service and maintenance of wind turbines and storage of parts and equipment required in pre-assembly phases.
- Service areas and ancillary facilities, infrastructure, including parking, and landscaping.
Planning permission was granted under reserved matters further to the Port of Hull Local Development Order (LDO), which was adopted in 2012 to assist in attracting renewable energy businesses to the port area within the Humber Enterprise Zone. This now means that the entire Siemens development has full planning approval.
The Alexandra Dock site is 540,000sqm, the equivalent of 78 football pitches. Development of the site will also include:
- The partial infill of Alexandra Dock to provide additional storage areas.
- A new quay for loading of part-assembled turbines for shipping to offshore wind farms.
- Roll-on, roll-off ramps for the unloading of wind turbine components.
Siemens Hull development
With partner Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310m in the Hull project – the city’s biggest ever inward investment.
Today’s approval for two related planning applications follows a Siemens decision last November to bring together buildings previously earmarked for Alexandra Dock and nearby Paull onto a single site. Siemens’ continuing research led to a more efficient factory design for the manufacture of its turbine blades, thereby enabling the facility to be accommodated at Alexandra Dock.
Siemens’ Hull Project Director Finbarr Dowling said:
“We are delighted our revised proposals have been granted planning permission and the development of Alexandra Dock is now fully consented.
“We would like to thank members of the planning committee, and Hull City Council generally, for their support. The planning process has been very professionally managed, with excellent and proactive engagement between Siemens, ABP, the local authority and a wide range of statutory consultees and interested parties.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the tremendous backing we have received from the local community, which reflects the highly supportive environment we have experienced in Hull since announcing our investment proposals.”
The facilities at Alexandra Dock will create 1,000 jobs directly, with more during construction and in the supply chain, and stimulate further investment and economic growth. Siemens has already begun hiring for jobs based in Hull, with recruitment continuing through 2015 and 2016.
As well as bringing a new industry to the UK, the pioneering Siemens investment will make a key contribution to meeting Britain’s targets for renewable energy generation and to driving down the costs of wind power.
Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Stephen Brady, said:
“This is one of several milestones that takes the city a step further towards the delivery of the project and today’s approval is a fine example of how teams across the Green Port Hull project are working collaboratively to bring this scheme to fruition.
“Early engagement with key statutory agencies since the start of this project has led to close working relationships, further strengthened since the approval of the Local Development Order alongside the Humber LEP. This approach has enabled swift and positive responses from all key consultees to the applications determined today, demonstrating the planning system’s ability to deliver a major manufacturing element of a new industrial sector to the city in good time.
“We would like to thank Siemens and Associated British Ports in their continued commitment towards developing manufacturing, assembly, load-out and servicing facilities for offshore wind turbines.”
ABP has appointed the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture to develop the Alexandra Dock site for the Siemens facilities and enabling work is well advanced. Siemens anticipates that construction of the blade factory and associated facilities will begin this summer.
Mr Dowling added:
“We are looking forward to beginning work on our blade factory and related facilities and to seeing our plans to create world-class manufacturing and assembly operations take shape.
“We have been pleased with the progress that has been made so far, under the direction of our partners, ABP, in moving forward such a huge scheme while minimising impact on the local community.
“As we appoint contractors and begin our own construction phase, we will continue to work very closely with the council and other agencies to limit disruption while bringing this transformational investment to fruition.”
Siemens is a significant UK employer with 13,760 employees, including around 2,000 employees in its renewable businesses.
Find out more about the Hull project by visiting www.siemens.co.uk/hull
Finbarr Dowling, Project Director - Hull, introduces the location of Siemens blade manufacturing and wind turbine assembly facilities:
-ENDS-
Contact for journalists:
Siemens plc
Anne Keogh,
Tel: 07808 823545
E-mail: anne.keogh@siemens.com
John Meehan, of Meehan Media & Comms (on behalf of Siemens plc)
Tel: 01482 223479
Mobile: 07803 199492
E-mail: john@meehanmedia.co.uk
For further information and press pictures, please see: www.siemens.co.uk/press
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/siemensuknews
About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
To find out more about Green Port Hull please see www.greenporthull.com
