Major investors are looking at Goole’s FREEPORT 36 development as a location of choice, a director at property developer HBD told an East Yorkshire event.
David Nuttall, a Director at HBD, said interest in the 300-acre industrial and logistics development was high, reflecting Goole’s compelling proposition as a place to invest and do business.
FREEPORT 36 will deliver 5.5m sq ft of prime commercial space, and is designed to provide high-quality, sustainable industrial and manufacturing facilities adjacent to the M62 motorway.
Mr Nuttall said HBD remained focused on delivering a development “of national scale and prominence,” and said enquiries for FREEPORT 36 were outpacing other sites across the company’s portfolio.
Goole was at the heart of conversations during Place Yorkshire’s ‘East Yorkshire Development Update 2026’ event, held at the University of Hull on May 14th.
FREEPORT 36 will deliver 5.5m sq ft of prime commercial space, and is designed to provide high-quality, sustainable industrial and manufacturing facilities adjacent to the M62 motorway.
Leaders from across East Yorkshire shared their insights on the region’s biggest investment opportunities, how to unlock significant growth, and the barriers which exist that can delay projects from advancing.
Joining a panel discussion at the event, Humber Freeport’s Head of Investment Richard Beason said: “The Humber is in a strong place to deliver. The region is ready, and now is the time to invest.
“The benefits provided by the freeport across its tax sites are the cherry on the cake. Of course, you need all the other factors – be it power, connectivity, people or supply chain – to be in place, but the incentives we provide to investors can make a significant difference.
“Across the Humber, we all want the same thing. We want growth, we want the job creation that comes with that growth, and we want the investments which enable both of those to happen.
Conversation spanned infrastructure, connectivity and skills, and highlighted the strategic advantages which make East Yorkshire a prime location for investment.
“There are billions of pounds of investment ready to be spent in the Humber, including the production of hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel. Investors are waiting on Government policy support and other factors like grid connectivity and availability of power.”
Mr Beason joined a panel alongside Mr Nuttall, Greg Lacey, Head of Property at Associated British Ports, and Bekki Banks, Inward Investment Project Manager (Goole) at Invest East Yorkshire. The session was chaired by Place Yorkshire’s Contributing Editor Adam Branson.
Conversation spanned infrastructure, connectivity and skills, and highlighted the strategic advantages which make East Yorkshire a prime location for investment.
Power and planning emerged as key themes, and the importance of clear Government policy around key issues including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage to accelerate investment and reduce the risk of global investors choosing overseas markets with more favourable conditions.
Speaking about FREEPORT 36 at Goole, Mr Nuttall said: “Despite what is happening nationally and globally, Goole is outpacing our other sites in terms of enquiries and interest. Without doubt, the Freeport benefits are an important part of that proposition.
David Nuttall, a Director at HBD, said interest in FREEPORT 36 reflected Goole’s compelling proposition as a place to invest and do business.
“Above all, it highlights the strength of Goole as a location, and the appetite from businesses to be located in the area. We have planning consent, the site is ready to go, and we want to deliver something of national scale and prominence.
“Success breeds success. Once money has been spent, and investment has been announced, you tend to find it attracts more of the same. East Yorkshire, in essence, becomes the safe bet for major investment.”
The event was opened by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Leader, Cllr Anne Handley, who emphasised the Humber “is fully open for business.”
Cllr Handley said: “Conversations around critical infrastructure like power and connectivity remain a challenge, and underline the need for Government support and timely infrastructure solutions.
“Investments of the scale we are talking about bring with them skilled job creation, employment opportunities, business and supply chain growth, and prosperity for our region.”
- You can read more about FREEPORT 36 at Goole here: humberfreeport.org/freeport-36-development-to-deliver-thousands-of-jobs-at-goole-tax-site/
