Region’s property industry poised to benefit from wind turbine plant

PLANS by Siemens to build a major new wind turbine manufacturing plant in Hull will deliver benefits for commercial sites across the city, according to the region’s property professionals.

Hull was chosen by Siemens as the location for a major new wind turbine manufacturing plant in a major announcement made last week.

The decision was a victory for the Green Port Hull initiative launched in December to make the city a new hub for the wind turbine industry and create 10,000 jobs for the region.

Port operator ABP is to make its biggest ever single investment as it spends £100m making the Alexandra Dock ready for Siemens.

Dave Garness, director of Garness Jones commercial property surveyors in Hull, said there was no doubt the focus of the potential Siemens investment would be on Alexandra Dock.

However, he said opportunities would lie across the region for operators in the property community. 

As business leaders in the Humber region now target further turbine construction opportunities, Mr Garness said inward investment will not be confined to the dock estates and Hull needs to be ready to respond.

He said: “Some businesses will need to be on the dock estate because of the nature of their work but others can be a bit more flexible about their location and of course may not be able to find the space they need on the docks as the area develops.

“Sites in the docks area along Hedon Road are a very important piece of the jigsaw but other areas of the city are also likely to benefit, maybe because of their proximity to residential areas that can provide a labour force or because they offer easy access to the motorway network.

“So we’ve got a good mix of properties in the Hull area and that may be one of the reasons Siemens chose to come here.”

Mr Garness said that although the project is vast, it won’t mean that businesses will only be on the look out for large buildings.

“This area can offer opportunities for new build and we have existing buildings of all sizes to meet the expected demand for small manufacturing, service and office-based businesses that form the supply chain for a project like this,” he added.

“Property professionals in the area need to be able to offer flexible deals and quick completions but I am confident we can do that.”

David Stone, head of property and partner at the Yorkshire office of law firm Dickinson Dees, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Hull and can usher in a new era of prosperity for the region. From a property and a construction point of view, this will stimulate sectors which have been struggling for the past few years.

“There will be opportunities for new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings to meet the expected demand for small manufacturing, service and office-based businesses that will form the supply chain for such a prestigious and far-reaching project.”

Colin Harrop, senior associate at King Sturge, said: “The construction industry has been crying out for new developments and there are people there who are keen to make it work.

“The commercial property industry needs to respond quickly and meet the demand that will, inevitably, be in the pipeline.”