THE completion of major highway improvement works in North East Lincolnshire marks a milestone in the local authority’s bid to transform the area’s industrial fortunes.
Business leaders are also optimistic that the work, which has been carried out as part of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP), will help to bring further opportunity.
With a new roundabout and improvements to the entry and exit onto the A180 and to the roundabout near the CATCH facility, the works on the A1173 near Immingham are now complete aside from some minor finishing off on either side of the carriageway.
Led by North East Lincolnshire Council and managed by its regeneration partner ENGIE, the project has finished on time despite an initial delay to its start in March due to the first Covid-19 lockdown.
The roundabout provides access to the new ‘oven ready’ business park, developed as part of SHIIP with a large investment in infrastructure including utilities, fibre cable and water. Work on the park continues with construction of the bespoke headquarters of myenergi on track for completion in early spring. The distinctive black building will become the headquarters of the burgeoning Lincolnshire green energy firm, which is a leader in the design and production of renewable charging devices for homes and vehicles.
SHIIP also includes the building of the soon to be complete £8.5m Humber Link Road, and the award-winning Cress Marsh wildlife mitigation site.
Myengeri co-founder Jordan Brompton hopes her firm will be a catalyst for others within the renewables sector to look to the new business park.
“We are already seeing the expansion and development of some extremely exciting green energy projects in the area and of course we have the ever-growing offshore wind sector within North East Lincolnshire. This is the future, and we want to bring that future here,” said Jordan.
For well-established businesses too, the importance of attracting new investment is key to North East Lincolnshire’s future success – and improved highway infrastructure is vital.
Welcoming the completion of the A1173 and the good progress of the Humber Link Road, linking the ports of Grimsby and Immingham, Simon Bird, Region Director of Associated British Ports (ABP), said: “ABP Humber welcomes the improvement in infrastructure to the local area as it helps our customers and colleagues carry out their work efficiently. The Humber Link Road between both towns will help reduce travelling time and carbon emissions.”
Supporting those views, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “North East Lincolnshire has a real opportunity to grow and emerge as a leader in the field of renewable energy, as well as continuing to attract other business, commerce and industry. We are working hard to make this happen and the investment, energy and commitment being put into SHIIP reflects that.”
The A1173 project has been supported by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (HLEP) with £2.6m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund. This was secured by the Humber LEP and is part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
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