Member Article

Siemens £200m Investment In Goole Will “Unlock The Potential Of Capitol Park”

The £200m investment by Siemens in Goole 36 will unlock the potential of Capitol Park Goole, according to leading Yorkshire developers Sterling Capitol.

Mike Heydecke, director of Leeds-based Sterling Capitol, welcomed the Siemens announcement, saying it was “tremendous news for Capitol Park and tremendous news for Goole”.

Mr Heydecke said: “Capitol Park Goole, adjacent to the M62 at Junction 36 and next to the Siemens site, is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this investment. The park has been opened up by the new link road from the motorway to the port and has massive economic potential. This potential can now be unlocked by this exciting decision.”

Siemens has signed a long term agreement for the lease of a 67-acre site at Goole 36, with plans to build a new state-of-the-art factory to manufacture and commission trains.

This development, which could mean an investment of up to £200m, is a major step forward for Siemens in the UK. Siemens aims to start phased development later this year, if investment conditions are met, and subject to the company’s success in major future rail orders.

The new factory could employ up to 700 people in skilled engineering and manufacturing roles, plus an additional 250 people during the construction phase. Around 1,700 indirect jobs are expected to be created throughout the UK supply chain.

Stephen Silvester, Inward Investment Manager of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “The Siemens investment is a massive vote of confidence, not just for Goole but the whole region, and the 700 skilled jobs to be created is a real boost that will provide a step change for the local economy.

“A manufacturing investment of this scale will also provide significant supply chain opportunities and the resulting clustering effect will mean the surrounding allocated employment land such as the Capitol Park Enterprise Zone will be ideally placed to accommodate these additional requirements.”

Robert Whatmuff, Colliers, joint marketing agents of Capitol Park Goole with the Leeds office of Knight Frank, said: “The announcement that Siemens will invest £200m in a new rail factory on the adjacent land with the creation of 700 engineering and manufacturing jobs is fantastic news for the local and regional economy. Immediately adjacent to the Siemens factory site is Capitol Park Goole which offers a 29-acre development site, within the Enterprise Zone, situated adjacent to J36 M62 with outline planning consent for up to 550,000 sq. ft. B1/2 & B8 uses.

“Since the Siemens announcement, we have been approached by several supply chain companies who have requested further information about the site and the Enhanced Capital Allowances benefits against investment in new plant and machinery that the site could offer companies locating to it. This is a great time for Goole and perfect timing to bring Capitol Park Goole forward.”

Stephen Kinsella, director of land at Homes England, who own Goole 36, said: “The announcement by Siemens is great news for Goole and it is fantastic that we have been able to create an enterprise zone on our land which will now help create hundreds of sustainable jobs.

“By building the new road, we have opened the site up to not only Siemens but to other companies whose investment is likely to create and support 1,000 new jobs”

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We’re committed to supporting Siemens’ ambitions to establish a major manufacturing facility for the UK rail industry in Goole, which would deliver significant economic benefits to the East Riding of Yorkshire, the wider region and the country as a whole.”

The news of the Siemens investment follows the announcement of the development of the pioneering 29-acre Goole Intermodal Terminal next to Capitol Park.

Mike Heydecke said: “The Goole Intermodal Terminal will draw together the town’s existing rail, sea, motorway and inland waterway links into one site providing an integrated transport facility for business. This facility will offer companies the opportunity of seamless movement of goods; from ship to road, ship to rail or ship to barge and vice versa; shortening the timescale and therefore lessening the cost of moving goods.

He added: “This is tremendous news for Capitol Park and for the port of Goole. We have recently been granted planning permission to develop the park, which is likely to create 3,000 new and sustainable jobs in Goole and the East Riding.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .