lb4.3m grant approved for South Humber Bank Drainage Project

A major drainage project around the south bank of the Humber continues to be given the green light because of funding from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Killingholme Marshes Drainage Scheme in North Lincolnshire would be to receive a grant of £4,328,032 through the LEP from the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

The surface water drainage project will allow for further development of the South Humber Bank and also the Able Marine Energy Park, which is set to become a bespoke, world-leading facility to serve the needs of the burgeoning offshore alternative energy sectors.

Other organisations which will benefit range from the main C.Ro port facility, MoD South Killingholme Jetty, CLH Pipeline System, Phillips 66, Benton Transport, Network Rail, property firm Bethany Jayne, North Lincolnshire Council and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

The project will definitely cost £9,204,324 in total and is expected to safeguard 1,500 jobs.

“The South Humber Bank is strategically vital that you the region and the UK economy as a whole, and this project is vital to the future development of the area,” said Pat Doody, Chair from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

“It will create a pumping station and other new drainage infrastructure to facilitate further development of the South Humber Bank, which forms the biggest area of any Enterprise Zone in the UK as well as an important component of the recently successful Humber Freeport bid.

“The scheme will prevent future flooding of industrial land and property, ensuring that established businesses can remain and let more inward investment around the South Humber Bank in the future.”

“A vital part of the jigsaw and great illustration of local support” is how ABLE UK Executive Chairman Peter Stephenson described the grant support for that pumping station as a means of progressing the development of the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP).

“The offshore wind sector is around the cusp of something special,” he said. “We have clear and unambiguous policy from Whitehall with the Sector Deal and the increasingly demanding targets for both power generation and the extent of UK context – there is an unparalleled level of market visibility.

“Combine this with the sector’s extraordinary efforts in terms of developing new products and significantly reducing costs, and also the sector is set to become a dominant element in a post-Covid-19 UK economy.

“Confirmation of the Government funding, and of course the recently announced support in connection with the BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (OWMIS), will see the Able Marine Energy Park play an important role in the process to put the Humber in the very heart of this dynamic sector.”

Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes, said: “I welcome this substantial grant for any much needed drainage scheme in Killingholme which has been approved by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and is based on the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

“In the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced an additional significant investment in the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP). This drainage project allows the further developments in the region which will help the UK pursue its ambition to be the ‘Saudi Arabia of Wind’, creating many more skilled jobs for local people.”

Councillor Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The approval of this funding means vital infrastructure work can begin to enable the development of the new port facility in North Lincolnshire and ensure that homes are protected simultaneously.

“This Government cash is further investment that will unlock skills, jobs and investment, assisting to transform the local economy – though it should be recognised for its significance regionally, nationally and internationally.

“This project supplies a significant opportunity towards attracting and retaining highly trained jobs to the area and will also be a key driver for economic growth and prosperity for decades to come.”

Once completed the Killingholme Pumping Station, that is part of the scheme, will be adopted by North East Lindsey Drainage Board which will then be responsible for its ongoing maintenance.