Six projects across Hull and East Yorkshire look set to receive a share of £13.4 million, with the potential to create up to 1,300 jobs outlined.
Schemes have been selected by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership board, having received notice of the area’s allocation under the government’s Getting Building Fund.
It is designed to support ‘shovel-ready’ projects to progress over the next 18 months, kickstarting the economy post-coronavirus, with transport resilience, accelerating new home development and sustainable jobs at the heart.
Included are thousands of square metres of new office space, 1,120 new homes and an enabler to allow an additional 247 employees to cycle to work.
Almost £200 million of investment will be unlocked.
The projects:
Growing Hull and East Yorkshire – £1.5 million
This scheme will offer capital grants to SMEs, focussing on job creation and stimulating investment, while also supporting the safeguarding jobs and the green recovery.
It is an extension of the Growing the Humber scheme, which has invested £35.3 million since 2013, leveraging £122 million from 439 businesses and supporting the creation of 2,814 jobs.
Hull and East Yorkshire Highways Resilience Programme – £2 million
This programme will support road maintenance schemes in Hull and East Yorkshire, in the East Riding focusing on repairs to A-roads, while in Hull the project will support road repairs in Hull before major construction begins on the £355m A63 Castle Street scheme.
RaisE Business Centre and Innovation Hub – £1 million
The RaisE Business Centre and Innovation Hub will be adjacent to the Siemens Mobility train factory on the Goole 36 Enterprise Zone. It will provide high-tech managed workspace and R&D facilities for SMEs in manufacturing, engineering, and rail supply chains, and has been developed in partnership with Siemens Mobility and the UK Rail Innovation Network (University of Birmingham), which will also have a presence on the site.
Delivering Housing Growth Programme – Ings and Wawne 2 – £4.8 million
A new spine road and electrics in Ings could see a further 310 homes built sooner than expected, while in Wawne a further 850 homes could be built quicker with the installation of a new spine road and drainage, adding to existing new homes currently being built on both sites.
Hull & East Yorkshire Cycle Route Delivery Programme – Phase 1 – £2.7 million
A programme of cycle infrastructure upgrade and provision of new cycle facilities which will focus on provision in Hull and East Riding along the A1079 Beverley Road and the route from Cottingham to the city centre.
Managed Workspace Programme – £1 million
A package of new and improved managed workspace offers to meet demand and stimulate economic recovery in Hull and East Riding. This programme will include investment in the Grovehill site in Beverley, BeSpoke Business Resource Centre in Bransholme and Boulevard 4 to complement the existing Louis Pearlman Centre.
(Image: jellerby)
This is the first round with a ‘new geography,’ with North and North East Lincolnshire now part of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s funding stream, after devolution in the Humber broke down.
Chair of the Humber LEP, Stephen Parnaby OBE, said: “This funding will support new jobs, safeguard existing jobs, see houses built and roads improved, as well as help support the Humber’s mission to become net-zero by 2040.
“These six projects have the potential to support our residents not just in the next 18 months, but will provide a lasting impact and benefits.”
Applications for Growing Hull and East Yorkshire will open shortly, with the five further projects will receive final funding confirmation following individual business case appraisals.
Councillor Stephen Brady, leader of Hull City Council, said: “We welcome these projects as we work closely with the Humber LEP and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to support businesses in the region.
“These schemes will help to create new jobs in the city and also support our transport networks, which is good news for Hull’s ambition to become a cycling city and for our 2030 carbon neutral pledge.
“It will also help with the building of new homes in the city. We have already accelerated the city’s house-building programme which has allowed us to consistently exceed targets set by the government.”
Councillor Richard Burton, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Working with Hull City Council and the Humber LEP, we welcome the allocation of funding for such a diverse range of projects that will provide a real boost for both the East Riding and the city of Hull.
“Supporting local construction is vitally important to our local economy and will help our region to recover and thrive as well as providing real and tangible benefits for motorists, cyclists and the travelling public by improving our highway and cycling infrastructure.
“As well as infrastructure, the funding will also help support local small-and-medium-sized enterprises, which are the lifeblood of the East Riding economy, and provide opportunities for job creation and retention.
“The progression of the new business centres in Goole and Beverley is also really positive news, as they will play a key role in the ongoing development of the region’s economy and in attracting further inward investment to bring new prosperity to the East Riding.”