Ørsted signs deal for turbine foundation installation at Hornsea 3
Ørsted has signed an agreement with Cadeler for the installation of turbine foundations at Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm.
The contract contains a further mutual commitment to develop the vessel hire agreement into a transportation & installation contract for the entire foundation scope, widening Cadeler’s involvement in the Hornsea 3 project.
Subject to Ørsted taking a Final Investment Decision on Hornsea 3 – the agreement will see Cadeler make first use of its F-Class vessel, which is specifically built to handle the transportation & installation of the new generation of XL foundations and will be the latest addition to its fleet.
With a capacity of 2,852 MW, Hornsea 3 will produce enough low-cost, clean, renewable electricity to power 3.2 million UK homes, making a significant contribution to the UK Government’s ambition of having 50 GW offshore wind in operation by 2030 as part of the British Energy Security Strategy. Offshore installation for the wind farm project is forecast to begin in 2026.
Hornsea 3 will be located 160 km from the Yorkshire coast and when it comes online. Ørsted’s Hornsea zone – comprising Hornsea 1, 2 and 3 – will have a total capacity of in excess of 5 GW. This will be the world’s largest offshore wind zone, producing enough low-cost, clean, renewable electricity to power more than 5 million UK homes.
Patrick Harnett, Vice President Programme UK at Ørsted, said: “Hornsea 3 represents another leap forward of the size and scale of offshore wind farms. The construction of such a feat of engineering is only possible through tight collaboration, hard work, and dedication. We work very closely with our partner companies to develop the strong relationships needed – sharing knowledge and expertise throughout. With each project, we build on what we have learned and we are getting better and leaner each time, while still keeping a strong emphasis on quality and safety. We look forward to working alongside Cadeler when offshore construction begins.”
Cadeler has been actively involved in the building of wind turbines in connection with the Hornsea 2 project, and this third phase of the massive-scale wind farm Hornsea zone will therefore be a natural continuation of the work done by Cadeler in the past.
£18.65m pound bid for Knottingley submitted
Wakefield Council has submitted a bid for millions of pounds of government funding to improve the Hill Top area of Knottingley including a boost to recreational and family leisure activities.
The application for Levelling Up Funding reflects feedback from residents and businesses, with a wish list that includes improvements to shops, the expansion of walking and cycling links and the creation of more recreational space for children and young people.
The £18.65m funding is not guaranteed, as councils across England are competing against each other for funding.
In a public consultation held in June, 84% of respondents supported proposals to improve the shopping area of Hill Top, while 70% backed a proposal for improving walking and cycling links around Knottingley and 66% supported the creation of a multi-use outdoor recreation area next to Kellingley Club.
The top three play areas residents said they wanted to see (in order) were a play park for small children, green space with seating and a play park for older children.
The proposals have also been endorsed by the MP, ward councillors and businesses in the town centre.
Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for regeneration, said “We appreciate the support of everyone who took part in the consultation. We know this is a very competitive process, and this funding is not guaranteed, as we are competing against other councils. We hope this £18.65million bid succeeds as this would make a significant impact and would enable us to deliver fantastic projects that will bring real benefits to residents and businesses by improving the town centre, creating play areas and boosting wellbeing by promoting active travel in Knottingley.”
Cllr Tom Gordon, Knottingley ward councillor, said: “I am incredibly proud of the work that has gone into producing this ambitious Levelling Up Fund bid. I am grateful to both the leader of the Council, Cllr Denise Jeffery, and cabinet member for regeneration, Darren Byford, for working with local Councillors to put forward a proposal which, if successful, would deliver what residents of Knottingley & Ferrybridge want – a leisure centre.”
Government will scrutinise the bid against the characteristics of the area, the strategic fit within the Knottingley Masterplan, value for money, whether they can be delivered by 2025 and whether residents support the proposals.
The result of the bid is expected in the autumn of 2022.
£20m Levelling Up Fund bid submitted to Central Government for South Kirkby
Residents and businesses in South Kirkby have backed proposals by Wakefield Council to attract new businesses and employment opportunities to the area while creating new skills training opportunities for young people.
There are three projects, each of which have also been endorsed by MP John Trickett. If the Council is successful in securing funding, they will help to improve both the local economy and the environment for the benefit of businesses, residents and visitors.
The Creative Futures Hub will see the construction of a purpose-built facility to support higher and further education in the creative industries sector. The Hub will be supported by the Council’s Youth Hub service who are committed to delivering universal and targeted help to the community.
The two other projects were both endorsed by 85% of respondents to the consultation. One proposes the development of a new creative cluster at Production Park to support more well-paid, highly skilled jobs. The other is a Gateway and Greening project to improve the environment around South Kirkby for the benefit of all who use it.
The Council has submitted a £20million bid to the Levelling Up Fund to finance the three projects. However, funding is not guaranteed, as councils across England are competing against each other for a share of the funding.
Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for regeneration at Wakefield Council, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation. We know this is a very competitive process, and this funding is not guaranteed. These projects are important as they have the potential to make a significant difference to local residents and businesses. We have put forward a strong and persuasive bid which we hope will be successful so that we can get on with delivering an exciting future for South Kirkby.”
Labour MP Jon Trickett said: “South Kirkby desperately needs this £20 million to deliver transformative business and job opportunities for the area.
“Having come through the pandemic, a recession, and the ongoing cost of living crisis, the community needs this financial support from government to deliver much needed development, and create well paid quality full-time jobs.
“If the ministers are as committed to ‘levelling-up’ as they repeatedly tell us they are, they would ensure that this £20m comes to South Kirby without any needless delays.”
People were also asked about the emerging Spatial and Economic Framework (SEF) which provides an ambitious road map for the development of the area over the next 5-10 years and extends beyond the current proposals.
The top three priorities for future development selected were:
- Enabling the creation of new employment and development sites.
- Making the most of Moorthorpe Station as a travel hub.
- Creating new walking / cycling routes between the town, business parks and railway station to encourage active travel. The inclusion of green corridors and green spaces as part of new developments should also be encouraged wherever possible.
Overseas sales growth stagnates, according to survey of 2,600 firms
A survey of more than 2,600 UK exporters has revealed that overseas sales growth has been effectively stagnant for more than a year since the economy fully reopened after lockdown.
The BCC’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook for Q2 2022 showed the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales to be unchanged from Q1 at 29%, while those reporting a decrease remained at 25%.
This compares to around 40% of businesses consistently reporting increased domestic sales across the same time period in the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey.
Manufacturers trading overseas are under particular pressure, with only 39% expecting their profitability to increase in the next twelve months, compared to 48% of service sector exporters. This compares to 43% of all businesses surveyed in the QES.
Manufacturing exporters are also the most likely (78%) to expect to raise prices in the next year, a record high. Almost nine out of 10 (89%) firms in this sector cite ‘raw materials’ as their biggest cost pressure, with 74% citing ‘utilities’ and 70% citing labour costs.
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The combination of supply chain disruption, soaring prices, and the impact of Brexit red tape and compliance costs has had a chilling effect on exports, especially for smaller firms already scarred by the pandemic.
“Recent ONS figures have shown in increase in exports to the EU, driven in part by shortages caused by the war in Ukraine. But our data shows there are serious underlying issues – which are hitting smaller manufacturing exporters the hardest.
“Any new Prime Minister must acknowledge the huge challenges being faced by our exporters – often the most dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking businesses in the UK economy.
“Then Government must help businesses to harness the opportunities provided by existing free trade agreements, and those coming on stream. Far too many firms are either unaware of the possibilities or are uncertain how to take advantage.
“Chambers of Commerce have the expertise and business network to help Government shift the dial. By working together, we can build an end-to-end support service for our exporters which could truly make a difference.”
Sheffield chooses Veolia for food waste recycling trial
Sheffield City Council and Veolia will begin the city’s first ever food waste recycling trial later this month, with 8,200 households in the city being urged to recycle food waste separately from the rest of their rubbish.
Parts of Meersbrook, Woodseats, Burncross, Ecclesfield, Arbourthorne and Darnall have been selected to take part in the trial, which will see food waste collected weekly for 12 weeks.
All households in the trial areas will receive a food waste bin for outside, half the size of their blue paper bin, plus a five-litre kitchen caddy for inside, and a roll of 52 biodegradable liner bags. Households will be asked to empty their food waste, including plate scrapings, meat, fish, dairy products, rice, pasta and lots more into their kitchen caddy before transferring it to their outside bin for collection.
The trial will help to inform how many households will recycle their food waste in Sheffield, and how much food waste is likely to be collected. The areas chosen for the trial represent a range of socio-demographic groups, and evidence from other councils, already collecting food waste separately, suggests that this impacts on the amount of food waste collected.
At the end of the trial, participants will be asked for their feedback on what worked well, and less well, and this information will be used to help provide the best service possible when introduced across the City in the future.
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Waste & Street Scene Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council said: “Food waste recycling is something I have been calling for for many years, with its potential to make a big difference to our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our black bin waste.
“The trial will help us understand more about food waste collections locally and realise the scale of the benefits, both economically and environmentally.
“I’m very pleased to bring in this trial which will help us prepare for the full roll out which we are expecting to soon be a requirement outlined in the Environment Act.”
The food waste collected will be taken to anaerobic digestion facilities in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire where it will be recycled into bio-fuel and a nutrient-rich fertiliser and soil improver for use in farming.
Estimates suggest that UK households waste around 6.5 million tonnes of food each year.
In 2019, sampling undertaken by the council showed that 33% of the contents of Sheffield’s black bins are made up of food waste.
The Environment Act means will mean that all councils will have a duty to collect food waste separately from every household at least once a week. The Government has yet to confirm when separate collections will be required, initially proposing 2023 and more recently suggesting this be delayed until 2025.
Leeds agency offers free marketing solutions for businesses
CreativeRace is giving brands and business owners the chance to have their marketing questions answered for free this summer.
Since the pandemic, the number of businesses looking towards marketing themselves online has skyrocketed. Since 2020, 63% of businesses have increased their digital marketing budgets (HubSpot State of Marketing Report, 2021).
However, staying up to date with the latest industry trends and challenges can be tricky – especially for time-pressed business owners.
Responding to this increased demand, integrated agency CreativeRace’s experienced team will be answering marketing queries and offering bespoke solutions, completely free of charge throughout August and September.
Business owners, founders and marketers are invited to send their marketing challenges and questions through an online contact form, with the agency reading and responding to all submissions.
One lucky winner will also be selected to have their solutions implemented – free of charge – by the CreativeRace team.
In addition to putting together personalised solutions for each and every query, CreativeRace has launched a self-serve ‘knowledge hub’, where marketers and business owners can look up answers to problems they may be facing and see what other companies have been asking. The hub will be kept up to date with the latest submissions, seeing the CreativeRace team share their industry expertise to help business owners with their marketing.
CreativeRace CEO Rob Shaw said: “We have noticed a marked increase in the number of businesses reaching out over the past couple of years. The pandemic sped up many companies’ reliance on digital, causing firms to look for external support, especially in the case of smaller businesses where they may not have the expertise in-house.
“It’s understandable that not all businesses may have the resource to hire full-time employees to focus on the likes of SEO, PPC and PR. By making digital support accessible to everyone, we hope to educate, engage and inspire businesses, offering them the tools to improve their digital presence.
“As an integrated agency, we’re very lucky to have a team of talented marketers who excel in their fields, and we want to share this knowledge with businesses across the region and beyond.”
“As with most disciplines, you can only get so far in Digital Marketing through reading. Beyond that it comes down to application and problem-solving experience. Anyone who has met me at a roundtable event or similar knows that I never come with an agenda and simply aim to listen and help people wherever I can. This initiative is an extension of that, bringing value to businesses that might otherwise be unable to engage with experts and offering us the chance to engage in unique challenges and learning opportunities. A genuine win-win situation.”, added Malcolm Slade, Performance Director.
CBRE strengthens Northern UK development team with senior hire in Yorkshire
Global real estate advisor, CBRE has strengthened its Northern UK Development team with a senior hire in Yorkshire.
Catherine Birks has been appointed as senior director, bringing 20 years strategic development and regeneration experience to the team. Catherine’s expertise is particularly focussed on the promotion of public sector assets and public and private partnerships.
Catherine joins from LCR, owned by the Department for Transport, with a track record in long term strategic regeneration projects including King’s Cross and Stratford. Catherine successfully set up LCR’s Eastern Region and latterly headed up the expansion of the national development team working in partnership with Network Rail, Local Authorities and third party landowners to unlock and deliver complex sites and contribute to the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
Prior to LCR, Catherine worked on behalf of public sector partners to progress the latest proposals for York Central, including partnership collaboration, master planning, funding packages, planning strategy, land assembly, project governance and more.
Catherine is based in Yorkshire, but has worked regionally and nationally having previously held an advisory role at Deloitte, providing development expertise to public and private sector clients, including Transport for London, NHS, Ministry of Defence, as well as Local Authorities.
Alistair Chapman, senior director, UK Development Advisory team, said: “We are delighted to announce Catherine’s arrival at CBRE as she brings a wealth of development experience to our team.
“Her appointment is a real sign of our continued growth in the development advisory space across Yorkshire, the North East and the UK and will help the business grow our relationships with key developers, investors, public organisations and occupiers in the region by building on the experience of our existing wider Development Advisory team.
“We already have a strong pipeline of projects and look forward to growing this in collaboration with our existing market leading Leeds based teams.”
Richard Bamford, Managing Director, CBRE Leeds, said: “Catherine is a great addition to the CBRE Leeds team, her mix of public and private sector experience provides her with the excellent knowledge and skills needed to unlock many of the future development challenges in the region, bringing together a range of our in-house services such as Planning, Valuation, Agency, Project Management, Capital Advisors, Investment and ESG to name a few.
“With this appointment I am very much looking forward to seeing the continued growth of the Development Advisory business in Leeds, led by Alistair Chapman and Adam White with support from the wider team, to better service our local and national clients in the market.”
Catherine Birks added: “I am excited to be joining CBRE as the lead for the Development Advisory business in Yorkshire. I’ll be building on the success of the established team, providing expert tailored advice to clients, and promoting the capability of the wider CBRE business in the strategic regeneration and development sector.
“With my background being rooted in public and private partnerships, I’m looking forward to assisting clients across the region to unlock and deliver complex schemes to achieve their development, regeneration and economic growth ambitions.”
Contractor appointed to build new energy efficient maritime visitor centre for Hull
The creation of a new carbon neutral visitor centre at North End Shipyard has moved a step closer with the appointment of a Hull-based contractor, The Ashcourt Group.
Hull City Council has agreed that construction specialists, The Ashcourt Group, will deliver this important element of the Hull Maritime.
The Ashcourt Group has a track record in delivering a range of residential, commercial, industrial and leisure projects to the highest standards. Examples of their local work include the Castle Hill Rehabilitation Centre and a new Day Surgery.
Funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the ambitious plans mean the visitor centre at the former shipyard will be one of the most energy efficient buildings in the UK’s cultural and heritage sector.
The shipyard will become the new, permanent dry-berth for the Arctic Corsair – Hull’s last remaining deep sea sidewinder trawler and the restored 20th century Scotch Derrick crane.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The appointment of this local contractor is a significant milestone for this element of the project, and it will be great to see work get underway in the coming months.
“North End Shipyard is a hidden gem, steeped in shipbuilding history. The creation of the new visitor attraction will rejuvenate the area along the river Hull, as well as achieving the best energy standards.
“Together, the new visitor centre and the Arctic Corsair will offer residents and visitors the chance to learn more about the Arctic Corsair’s story, her tremendous career, and the heyday of Hull’s trawling industry.
“The new two-storey visitor centre will also highlight the historical significance of the shipyard, which will have its story told for the very first time.”
David Renwick, director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic news that the building of the new visitor centre at the North End Shipyard is getting closer to being a reality with the appointment of the contractor.
“We’re even more enthused that the plans will make it one of the most energy efficient heritage landmarks in the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re thrilled that we are able to support these plans and be involved in this significant step in making the cultural centres environmentally sustainable – a strategic priority for us at the Heritage Fund.”
Work is expected to get underway in the autumn and will open to the public in 2024.
Hull Maritime is a locally led project encompassing the redevelopment of five historic sites in Hull city centre: the transformation of the Grade II* Hull Maritime Museum and the Dock Office Chambers, the creation of a new visitor attraction at the North End Shipyard and the restoration two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.
West Yorkshire transport schemes set to benefit from £830m investment revealed
The list of transport schemes across West Yorkshire that are set to benefit from the £830 million City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) have been announced. This investment was made possible thanks to the Mayoral devolution deal.
Included within the investment is £200 million to develop and start to deliver the first phase of a Mass Transit network. Additionally, the programme includes eighteen new bus and cycle priority corridor improvements, three new cycling corridors, new zero emission busses, new electric vehicle charging points, improvements to rail stations across West Yorkshire as well as a rail accessibility package and essential highway maintenance and road safety improvements.
This work will build on the significant investment already being made in making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport around the region.
The programme will be delivered over the next 5 years, helping West Yorkshire work towards its ambition to achieve net zero by 2038. A full list of the schemes can be found here.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Significant progress has already been made in addressing years of underinvestment in transport in the North. Now with more devolved powers we can do even more.
“Our bold programme of interventions will help us deliver new bus routes, cycle lanes and let us take forward our ambitious plans for a new mass transit system across the region.
“Not only will these schemes help us deliver a transformational programme of new infrastructure, but they will help bring West Yorkshire to a position where our ambitions to become a net-zero carbon economy by 2038 are significantly more achievable.
“Delivering these schemes in partnership with our local authorities will allow us to move closer to our goal of an inclusive and accessible transport system fit for the 21st century that enables a fairer, greener, better quality of life for our residents and businesses.
“We are committed to building a transport network that the people of West Yorkshire deserve.”
The £830 million CRSTS programme builds on transport infrastructure projects as part of the Transforming Cities Fund, West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund and the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme.
Historic devolution deal to be signed with York and North Yorkshire
An historic devolution deal putting greater power into the hands of local communities in Yorkshire will be signed today by the Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark. This historic moment comes as the county celebrates Yorkshire Day.
DLUHC is delivering this significant deal which will create a new combined authority across the region with a directly elected mayor enabling local leaders to better address specific needs within the region.
The mayor will have powers to invest in transport, housing, and education, and will be handed £540million by government over the next 30 years.
The devolution deal means that over half a billion pounds will be transferred from central government to York and North Yorkshire to be invested according to local knowledge.
York and North Yorkshire is the first city and rural region to see devolution on the scale enjoyed by the core city regions including South and West Yorkshire.
Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark MP said: “Yorkshire Day 2022 is an historic one. It marks the return of powers and resources from London to much of the historic North Riding.
“Levelling up – driving prosperity and opportunity in all parts of Britain – is done best when people locally can forge the future of their area. This deal is a big step in that direction.”
The mayor will be supported by the transfer of key powers and investment from Whitehall to make the deal a reality. Key features include:
- Control of a £540 million investment fund in total over 30 years to drive growth and take forward local priorities over the longer term. This will give the mayor and local constituent councils more flexibility to decide how best to spend money on key local priorities, for example, capital infrastructure projects including transport, affordable housing and bringing forward economic development sites. It will also contribute to economic measures like skills development and supporting small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses.
- New powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, and an integrated transport settlement starting in 2024/25.
- Powers to better improve local skills to ensure these meet the needs of the local economy. This will include devolution of Adult Education functions and the core Adult Education Budget and contribute to the Local Skills Improvement Plan.
- Over £22.6m to support the building of new homes on brownfield land, deliver affordable homes, and drive green economic growth across York and North Yorkshire.
- Powers to drive the regeneration of the area and to build more affordable, more beautiful homes, including compulsory purchase powers and the ability to establish Mayoral Development Corporations.
- The mayor will take on role and functions of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
