Humber infrastructure drives growth as £58m approved for projects

The Humber LEP has now committed £58m in supporting partner projects across the region.

Funding from the Government’s Local Growth Fund is being invested alongside other public and private sector funding in projects that will help to create an infrastructure that supports growth.

Five projects were recently approved with £750k released for the A1105 Anlaby Road/Park Street bridge, strengthening a key city centre diversion route for Hull; while Bridlington Integrated Transport Plan Phase 2 will see £5.75m from the Local Growth Fund go towards further improvements to roads, footpaths and cycle access in the seaside town as well as improvements to parking facilities.

Flooding mitigation also featured with the approval of a £3m contribution to the Hull and Holderness Flood Alleviation Scheme, while regeneration projects will see £3m go towards Repurposing Hull’s Old Town (currently on site around Holy Trinity church), and more than half a million for an enterprise hub in Scunthorpe’s Westcliff area.

The latest approvals will bring the total to be released to almost £20m in 2015/16 with £40m planned for release in 2016/17.

The projects which help to deliver the aims of the Strategic Economic Plan are identified by the partners and independently assessed before being approved by the Humber Leadership Board and the LEP Board.

Ten of the 28 projects from rounds one and two of the five-year Growth Deal are underway, while a project pipeline is being developed to access more resources for the area in the future.

Other projects already underway include infrastructure and enabling works in Grimsby town centre to improve highways and the look of the area to unlock a major mixed use development including ‘grade A’ office accommodation, improvements to Humberside International Airport access routes, support to enable the increasing demand for high cube container freight by rail from the South Humber Ports to Doncaster, and a learning centre of excellence for the ports, energy and logistics sectors - Modal - the first in the UK to offer integrated logistics training for sea, road, rail and air which is completed.

Lord Haskins, chair of the Humber LEP board, said: “The Growth Deal is a part of the jigsaw that connects a large network of people, teams, businesses, organisations and funding working towards improving the region.

“None of these projects sits in isolation; all are taking place alongside wider public and private investment in regeneration projects, transport schemes, skills provision and Enterprise Zone sites to name just a few.

“For example, in Hull, the approval to invest £3m LGF towards improvements to Hull’s Old Town and the planned £4m towards an iconic bridge connecting the city with its waterfront sit alongside other city regeneration all which of which will play a central part in the City of Culture 2017 celebrations.

“While the investment in skills provision to serve the needs of emerging and existing Humber businesses is supported by the Humber LEP’s employment and skills strategy to address the wider needs of developing a productive and skilled workforce in the Humber. Modal logistics learning hub from project sponsor Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education is one illustration of how we are working with colleges, the University of Hull and specialist training providers to develop facilities, skills and employment support.”

The Humber LEP secured £113m of LGF in July 2014 to support Humber projects that contributes to a total local investment of £367m across 19 projects.

A further £9.9m was secured in January 2015 to develop 9 projects on both banks of the Humber, which coupled with the £37m local investment amounts to just under £47m capital injection into the area.

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