Humber Freeport invests almost £25m in seven key economy-boosting projects around the Energy Estuary

By Mary Green | Published November 2, 2023

Seed capital provided by government has been allocated in early action by new organisation with hundreds of jobs eyed u

By David LaisterBusiness Editor (Humber)
Humber Freeport chair Simon Bird has announced the recipients of the seed-investment pot, including Catch at Stallingborough and Ideal Heating in Hull, as well as speculative work with North East Lincolnshire Council.
Humber Freeport chair Simon Bird has announced the recipients of the seed-investment pot, including Catch at Stallingborough and Ideal Heating in Hull, as well as speculative work with North East Lincolnshire Council.

Humber Freeport has signed off nearly £25 million of investment for projects to stimulate growth and create hundreds of jobs across the region.

They include major new facilities that will accelerate the area’s decarbonisation, critical for the UK to meet its net zero ambitions. Each freeport is granted up to £25 million of seed capital funding by the government and the Humber board has now approved seven projects, highlighting the game-changing role it has to play driving significant inward investment.

Key objectives met included maximising opportunities from the net zero transition to create skilled jobs and unlocking the region’s economic potential. They are described as having the potential to reinforce the Humber’s status as the pre-eminent energy cluster in north west Europe, and make a tangible contribution to levelling up the economy.

The seven projects that have been granted funding – subject to further technical assessment – are:

  • Catch’s Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Centre in Stallingborough. The centre will be a regional decarbonisation hub, hosting research, events, conferences and networking to drive further inward investment.
  • Humbergate Infrastructure, led by North East Lincolnshire Council, which will provide the necessary infrastructure to develop the former Courtaulds site on the outskirts of Grimsby.
  • Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre and wider developments at its headquarters on National Avenue in Hull. The research and development facility will support low carbon technologies, including heat pumps.
  • RE:Group’s development of a facility for the treatment of waste oil on a currently derelict site in Air Street, close to the River Hull.
  • South Humber Industrial Investment Programme. Funding has been granted for new industrial units for the ongoing programme from North East Lincolnshire Council to improve infrastructure at the ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
  • Development of a site in Hull for the production of low-cost, zero emission hydrogen.
  • Development of a derelict site in east Hull into an advanced manufacturing plant.

Combined – with the last two’s developers remaining confidential for the time being – the seven will lever in three times as much investment from the private sector and are expected to create hundreds of jobs.

Humber Freeport chair Simon Bird said: “The board is delighted to have approved a total of close to £25 million of funding for these crucial projects across the region. This clearly demonstrates the vital role Humber Freeport has in securing and distributing significant funding to meet the region’s decarbonisation and economic growth ambitions.