A £3m project to improve services at one of the North East’s main ports has begun.
The project at the Port of Blyth will see the reconstruction and strengthening of the quay on the Bates Terminal site, as well as a kilometre of new road being installed to improve access and earthworks to level the site.
The Port has in recent years consolidated two neighbouring sites into a single terminal with multiple quays, and the new project will open up six hectares of quayside land and provide a heavy lift quay that will help the Port’s push into the offshore wind, renewables and liquid bulks sectors.
Port chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “Commencing these works is another major milestone in the development of Port of Blyth.
“While the reconstruction of the quay will provide increased flexibility and availability at a time when demand is high, the earthworks on site will open up exciting opportunities for redevelopment on areas of the existing terminal and recently acquired land.
“Having worked closely with the North East LEP on this project over the last year or so, we are delighted that all the funding has slotted into place for a project which will be of great benefit to both the port and the region.”
The project, which was agreed and funded before the coronavirus outbreak, will be carried out by County Durham civil engineering firm Hall Construction, with the project expected to be completed by November.
North East LEP chair Andrew Hodgson said: “The Bates Terminal is one of the North East LEP area’s enterprise zones, which are strategically important sites that will help support our aim of creating more and better jobs in the region.
“Our £2.85m investment alongside the Port of Blyth will help to further cement Blyth and the wider region as a key location for the offshore and subsea sectors, whilst also offering port customers across a range of sectors additional growth opportunities.”
The terminal redevelopment comes at a time when Blyth’s Energy Central partnership is nearing completion of the first phase of the £32m Northumberland Energy Park on the site of the former Blyth Power Station.
The partnership is a collaboration between Port of Blyth, Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and Offshore Energy Renewable (ORE) Catapult.
