Member Article

£2.4 million for Offshore research and development centre in Tees Valley

A new research and development facility focussed on the offshire wind industry - the first of its kind in the UK - will be built on Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park thanks to £2.38 million government funding.

The proposed Offshore Wind Validation Centre has secured ERDF money with match funding to come from Middlesbrough Council and the Growing Places Fund, managed by the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Centre will be operated by Middlesbrough-based TWI Ltd and Teesside University and is expected to be completed by June 2015.

It will assist 20 new and 35 existing businesses, creating 60 new and developing 70 existing jobs by the end of next year.

The Manufacturing Park, part of the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone, is a 13-hectare brownfield site situated next to the River Tees in Middlesbrough and was previously a reclaimed steelworks site.

It was granted Enterprise Zone status in 2012 allowing businesses on site to apply for business rate relief of up to £55k per year for five years.

Communities Minister Baroness Stowell said: “Middlesbrough is rightly recognised as one of the country’s great industrial bases and the government wants to help it develop new skills and technologies to remain an economic force into the 21st century.

“The £2.4 million the government is providing today will create a world-class technology and innovation park to make Middlesbrough even more attractive to existing and potential investors, create more jobs and great economic prospects for the people of Middlesbrough.”

Councillor Charles Rooney, Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development at Middlesbrough Council, said: “The development of Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park will give a significant boost to the economy of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley.

“The first development by TWI Ltd will kick start the park and provide a world class research facility that support a number of key business sectors in engineering and manufacturing fields.

“We would like to thank the European Regional Development Fund and Department for Communities and Local Government for their efforts in working to secure funding, which will enable the private sector to grow.”

Stephen Catchpole, managing director at Tees Valley Unlimited added: “The Tees Valley Enterprise Zone is one of the most successful in the country, attracting over £450 million of investment to the area and supporting almost 600 jobs.

“It is home to the world’s largest energy from waste production facility; the new National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and this funding will support the UK’s first Offshore Wind Validation Centre.

“We are looking to diversify our economy and take advantage of local skills and expertise and we welcome the ongoing support of our partners and stakeholders in helping realise the exciting opportunities that will deliver sustainability.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .