Plans submitted to find new home for Hull’s City of Culture wind turbine blade

A planning application has been submitted for the permanent location of a Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade, which was installed in the centre of the UK City of Culture.

The application comprises a plan to locate the 75m blade at the entrance to the Siemens Gamesa site in Hull.

Approval for the plans would mean members of the public will be able to see an attraction that became one of the highlights of Hull’s continuing year as the UK’s cultural capital.

The blade was one of the first manufactured at the Siemens Gamesa factory at Alexandra Dock in Hull, which opened in December 2016.

In January, artist Nayan Kulkarni transformed the 28-tonne structure into a sculpture know as “Blade”, which was then installed across Queen Victoria Square in the centre of Hull.

The Blade was featured as one of the highlights of Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s “Made in Hull” opening season.

During the 10 weeks in which it was featured in the city centre, the installation was seen by 1.1 million people, including more than 420,000 people who interacted with it.

The blade was returned to Siemens Gamesa’s Hull site, while plans were considered for its future use. Now the proposed new location has been revealed.

Jason Speedy, Siemens Gamesa’s Hull blade factory director, said: “We considered various locations on our Hull site for the blade and we have chosen this one because it will ensure it is seen by as many people as possible.

“It will be clearly visible to all visitors to the factory, partially visible from the A63/Hedon Road which passes the site, and will be positioned just yards from the public right of way which runs around Alexandra Dock, so people using the footpath will see it up close.

“Having previously been interpreted as an art installation, it is now proposed the blade will be a landmark for the Siemens Gamesa factory and a symbol of Hull as a centre of green energy manufacturing, engineering and innovation.”

Anthony Granville, the senior project manager who managed the city centre installation for Siemens Gamesa and has overseen the proposed relocation, added: “We’re very aware of how popular the City of Culture installation was, so we intend to present the blade in a similar way.

“We have acquired the mountings that held the blade in place in Queen Victoria Square and they will be used to secure it in its new location. It will also be held at the same degree of rotation as when it was seen in the city centre.”

Siemens Gamesa develops wind power manufacturing, assembly and logistics operations at the Hull site, where more than 1,000 people are now employed. The company is a Major Partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and the Blade installation was part of its contribution to the cultural and artistic programme.

Martin Green, chief executive of Hull 2017, said: “With the support of our Major Partner Siemens, Nayan Kulkarni’s Blade helped kick off Hull UK City of Culture 2017 in spectacular style. The incredible journey from the factory to Hull city centre and its streamlined elegance as it resided in Queen Victoria Square is etched in the memory.

“We’re therefore delighted that it is proposed to be permanently installed so that people visiting or passing the Siemens Gamesa factory at Alexandra Dock can see it for years to come.”

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