Humber Freeport: State-Of-The-Art Logistics Hub Gets Planning Go-Ahead

A major new industrial and logistics development is set to be built within the Humber Freeport Goole tax site after receiving outline planning consent, bringing a multi-million-pound commercial park close to Humber Ports, the UK’s busiest port complex.

Image: Humber Freeport

Hailed as a nationally significant industrial and logistics scheme, the approved FREEPORT 36 park sits on a 300-acre site which benefits from convenient access to Junction 36 of the M62 and the Port of Goole.

The Humber Ports complex, comprising Hull, Goole, Immingham, and Grimsby, collectively handle approximately 17% the nation’s trade, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers, alongside a wide variety of other cargo.

A Strategic Location With Financial Incentives

Image: Humber Freeport

Located within the Humber Freeport Goole tax site, FREEPORT 36 will offer occupiers a range of financial incentives, including business rates relief, National Insurance Contribution relief, and Enhanced Capital Allowances on investment in new plant and machinery.

“The locational advantages of Goole, along with its strong industrial cluster and Freeport incentives, offer end users a real competitive advantage,” explained Finbarr Dowling, Humber Freeport’s Chair, in a press release. 

“Industry leaders such as Siemens Mobility, Tesco Logistics and Guardian Glass are already located adjacent to the tax site, and have benefitted from this strategic location. The future of this site is very exciting.”

Developer HBD, the property investment and development arm of Henry Boot, has received approval to build a 5.5m sq ft park complete with high-quality, industrial and manufacturing buildings ranging from 40,000 square feet (sq ft) to over 1m sq ft. 

The next step will be to draw up detailed development plans ahead of potential to start construction on the site before the end of this year.

Supporting Business Growth Across The UK

Described as a major milestone in developing the Humber’s economy, the development is expected to create around 3,000 new skilled jobs in Goole alone once completed, while supporting a further 5,500 jobs in the wider Yorkshire and Humber region. 

“Manufacturing and logistics hubs are a critical part of enabling business and economic growth across the country and HBD is bringing forward another large-scale project to support commerce in the Yorkshire region,” commented Tim Roberts, CEO at Henry Boot. 

“The location and sustainability credentials of the development will attract high-quality, long-term occupiers in their own right, while advantages of the scheme’s strategic positioning within a Freeport tax site will act as a further draw,” Roberts added. 

The approval of the planning application marks “an exciting step forward” to delivering a state-of-the-art industrial and manufacturing park within the Freeport tax site.

“We are excited by the potential of the park to bring new investment and jobs to the region,” noted Suzie Wood, Head of Investment Property at St John’s College, Cambridge.