North Tyneside Council aims to support further economic development and job creation in the iconic Swan Hunter Shipyard site.
The former shipyard now hosts the Swann innovation centre, a three hectare site operated by WD Close and manages quay operations.
The innovation centre provides office space to firms in or seeking to relocate to the area. Since 2015, the quay has been used over 40 times to help transport offshore machinery and WD Close uses its facility to engineer fabrication units, successfully allowing the firm to diversify into the offshore industry. WD Close employs 105 people on its Swan Hunter lease.
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In December 2020, the authority also sold a plot to Shepherd Offshore Limited (SOL) with the aim of redeveloping the site and boosting the Swans Energy Park. SOL has since cleared several derelict buildings and applied for a marine licence to upgrade the quay infrastructure.
The Energy Park is currently managed by SOL and leased to DR, Bridon-Bekaert, IHC, and Baker Hughes.
The local authority hopes to keep the area fit for increased job opportunities and investment by extending an existing Local Development Order (LDO) for another 10 years. An LDO allows companies to develop and construct facilities more easily and intends to make areas more attractive for businesses.
Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson told North Tyneside cabinet: “Swans obviously was once the heartbeat of Wallsend and we absolutely hope that we can get back there. There is significant interest in Swans for the future so by doing this we will once again bring those jobs, which are really needed, back to the area.”
Valley councillor, Carol Burdis said: “We have all watched Swans and how it has developed throughout the years and I just want to say well done to our teams for actually progressing this to the stage we are at now and I look forward to seeing the end of it when it comes to fruition”.
The new LDO will be designed to give companies the security to develop in the sectors of energy (oil, gas, and renewable), offshore technologies, manufacturing and construction. The LDO will be open to a public consultation where residents and companies will be consulted to ensure potential developments are in keeping with the needs of the area.
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