The Government has approved a freeport tax site in Goole, in a move which will stimulate further major investment within the Humber region. The tax site, which forms part of the wider Humber Freeport, spans almost 500 acres of prime development land across two plots, separated by the M62 motorway, on the outskirts of the East Yorkshire town. The proposed footprint for the Goole tax site was submitted for approval in August last year. Now the site has been officially designated, following review and approval by the Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs. It means businesses investing within the tax site can benefit from a series of advantages, ranging from business rate and stamp duty land tax relief, to National Insurance support designed to reduce employment costs. Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird welcomed approval for the Goole tax site. He said: “Designation of the Goole tax site is another major positive step forwards for Humber Freeport and our mission to drive economic growth, generate thousands of skilled jobs, support innovation and promote cross-sector collaboration. “We strongly believe our freeport proposition in the Humber is a compelling and unique one, with huge opportunities in decarbonisation, advanced manufacturing, chemicals and port-related operations. “We’re offering investors the opportunity to benefit from the Humber’s status as a global gateway, with easy access to mainland Europe and beyond via the UK’s busiest ports complex. “We’ve got the space to grow, the people, the skills and the world-class companies already here to support investors, making the Humber the perfect place to do business.” Humber Freeport aims to capitalise on the Humber’s vital role as a strategic asset for UK Plc as Britain’s global gateway, by attracting large-scale inward investments creating thousands of new jobs. Designation of the Goole tax site will support the delivery of one of the region’s largest investments. Property developer Wykeland Group holds the long-term development rights to the 211-acre northern part of the Goole tax site and Wykeland has exchanged on a deal with Finnish tissue paper manufacturer Metsä Tissue. Subject to planning approval, Metsä Tissue will invest hundreds of millions of pounds to create the UK’s largest tissue paper mill on the site. The facility is proposed to be built in several phases over the next few years. It will create more than 400 jobs, with thousands of additional indirect jobs generated across the supply chain and in the local economy. Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “Confirmation of freeport tax status for the Goole site is excellent news for Goole and the wider Humber. “The freeport tax site benefits added to the attractiveness of the proposition for Metsä Tissue. “They also underline the appeal of the wider Goole site, paving the way for further large-scale development delivering economic growth, new jobs and wide-ranging community benefits.” The southern part of the Goole tax site is owned by St John’s College, Cambridge, which has appointed HBD, part of Henry Boot, as Development Partner. Goole has become a magnet for inward investment in recent years, with the freeport tax site designation underlining the appeal of a location with excellent transport links via road, rail and the UK’s premier inland port. Siemens Mobility is at the forefront of the town’s rejuvenation, with an investment of up to £200m in a rail manufacturing facility, adjacent to the freeport tax site, where tube trains for London’s Piccadilly line will be built. The southern part of the Goole tax site presents an opportunity to create an integrated supply chain alongside the Siemens Mobility rail centre of excellence and the neighbouring Guardian Glass factory. The site has the potential to unlock a wealth of high-quality employment opportunities, particularly within the rail, advanced manufacturing and low carbon energy sectors. Goole is one of three Humber Freeport tax sites, alongside Hull East and the Able Humber Port at Immingham. Other companies that have announced plans to invest on Humber Freeport sites include rare earth exploration company Pensana and green hydrogen specialist Meld Energy, both at Saltend Chemicals Park within the Hull East tax site.

A gas-powered car carrying vessel on its maiden voyage has made its first call at Immingham bringing cars from Europe. The 200-metre LNG-powered vessel built last year is operated by the CMA CGM Group and is the first of four car carriers each with a 7,000-vehicle capacity. Simon Bird, Regional Director for ABP in the Humber said: “It’s always great to see new vessels visit our ports in the Humber, particularly when they are part of customer’s transition to net zero. That’s something ABP is committed to, getting to net zero ourselves by 2040 at the latest and supporting a range of energy and industrial sectors in their journeys.” “The Humber is a global gateway, and we look forward to seeing more deep-sea vessels of this kind visit.” John Blessington, Managing Director of CMA CGM in the UK said: “CMA CGM Indianapolis is the Group’s first LNG-powered car carrier. LNG powered vessels are part of our commitment to tackling climate change and to reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2050. “We are reducing our carbon footprint in two ways – firstly by modernising our assets and optimising our sea and land operations and infrastructure to increase energy efficiency, and secondly by integrating low-carbon fuels in our energy mix.  CMA CGM is a pioneer in the use of LNG ships and biofuels, reducing our CO₂ emissions by around 1 million tons in 2023.” Associated British Ports (ABP) is the largest port operator in the UK with 1.7 million cars a year passing through our ports in the Humber and Southampton. The combination of both port hubs provides a true north-south single provider solution, underpinned by over £100 million of investment in vehicle handling facilities and backed by well-equipped, highly experienced stevedoring operations and services.