UK: North Tyneside Council Approves Offshore Wind Fabrication Facility

Offshore Group Newcastle Limited announces that the planning application for a new 36,000sqm offshore wind fabrication facility was approved by North Tyneside Council on 18^th September.

The 36,000sqm building will house an offshore wind fabrication facility, where jacket foundations for offshore wind turbines will be produced, including the innovative Triton foundation. The Project has the potential to create up to 700 local jobs and represents a £50m investment, supporting the growth of the offshore and renewable sectors in the local economy.

Graham Kennedy, Director and Chief Technical Officer for OGN and its subsidiary Aquind comments: “The achievement of this milestone is excellent news, both for OGN and the North Tyneside area in general and we are delighted that North Tyneside Council has supported this project.  We will create around 100 jobs during the construction of the facility and then 700 new sustainable jobs for local people in its operation, plus many more in the regional supply chain.  We look forward to working with the Council and local residents as we take this exciting development forward.”

David Edwards, Chief Executive Officer for OGN adds: “This project will allow us to satisfy a growing demand from the Offshore Wind sector in the coming years and create new long term jobs in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.  I am proud to be able to bring such an opportunity to the region where I was brought up, and I appreciate the support that we have had from the North Tyneside Council in this matter.”

OGN hopes to start construction in 2013 and have the facility up and running in 2014 ready to achieve  full capacity in time for the deep water offshore wind farm developments around 2015.

Mark Brooker, senior planner at Storeys Edward Symmons, which has submitted the planning application on OGN’s behalf, comments: “We’ve worked hard with the council to get the application to committee on Tuesday so that this decision could be taken into consideration when OGN’s application to the Regional Growth Fund is considered. It will also create and safeguard jobs in the supply chain, and bring trade to local businesses. This is all great news for the area.  The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, local ward councillors, our MP and the elected mayor have all visited the site and we are very pleased with the support we have received from them.”

The fabrication halls at Hadrian Yard B will be demolished to make way for the new facility measuring 300m by 120m, which will comprise three 40 metre wide parallel production lines each leading to a dedicated painting bay.

The office block and car parking at Yard B will be retained and refurbished. Work is still being undertaken in conjunction with the Council on how best to soften the visual impact of the building on the area.

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Press release, September 20, 2012; Image: Energi Coast