HOW DID BUSINESS LEADERS LET PROSPECT OF 750 JOBS SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS?

                                           

Wind turbine monopiles similar to these are set to be manufactured on Teeside, not Humberside

HOPES that 750 jobs could be created near Grimsby have today unexpectedly been dashed.

It was throught that the steel monopiles - bottom sections - of  hundreds of offshore wind turbines would be built at the Able Marine Park at North Killinghome.

But it emerged today that, starting in July, South Korea's SeAH Wind will instead manufacture the foundations at a 90-acre site on Teesside.

Reasons for the change of location have not been divulged, but is understood that Tesside can offer a favourable financial package, including business rates relief, because it has enjoyed freeport status since the end of last year.

In addition, the new state-owned UK Infrastructure Bank is investing £107-million to help create a new quay next to the factory.

This will faciliate the transfer of the monpiles to the Hornsea 3 windfarm where Ørsted will be the customer.

As well as 750 direct jobs, there will be 1,500 others in the supply chain. The Teesside economy will enjoy an unprecedented boost for many years to come. 

The decision is a real feather in the cap for Redcar and Cleveland Council and Teesside MPs who seem to have snatched the prize from under the noses of North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and MPs Martin Vickers and Lia Nici.  

The Conservative mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, described the decision as "a real coup", adding that his area could now be considered the UK focus of  renewable energy.

There is  a worry that, for reasons of logistics, Orsted might now consider re-locating from Grimsby to Teesside.

The Grimsby News says: This is a serious setback to regeneration hopes for the South Bank. Why has it happened? On the face of it, it looks as if  our local authorities, MPs and business leaders have been complacent and completely forgotten that we live in a highly competitive world. Did they not see the threat coming over the horizon? While they were asleep at the wheel, those canny Teessiders have crept up on the blindside and snatched the spoils.