The £100m 'green' Bridgehead Business Park has been officially launched at the end of a hugely significant week in the Humber's plans to become the heart of the UK's renewables industry.
The idea was first talked about more than 30 years ago when construction of the Humber Bridge was still under way.
Yesterday, more than 100 people gathered at the Bridgehead Business Park for its official launch by Alan Johnson MP.
The development, which sits in the shadow of the Humber Bridge, will eventually house about 3,000 jobs, with an emphasis on environmental technology sectors.
And it marks the latest in a series of announcements this week which indicate a renewed confidence in the future of East Yorkshire's economy – and the prospect of work and jobs.
Mr Johnson said the Bridghead Business Park had huge potential.
He said: "Any politician in any area will always be about jobs, so the prospect of 3,000 jobs here at such an environmental and sustainable project is terrific and something I am very proud of."
And he said the new business park was symbolic of the dogged determination by many businesses to ensure the region is ready to take advantage of new opportunities as the economy recovers.
He said: "It is fair to say there has been a long gestation period.
"I have been an MP for 16 years and 15 of those have been spent bringing Bridgehead to fruition.
"But I always said we would get a British men's Wimbledon Champion before that happened."
Bridgehead's launch comes after a stellar week for Hull and the Humber's economy, in particular the region's renewables and "green" industries.
On Monday, the Mail revealed plans for a £250m development between Hull and Hedon for a biomass power station and eco-park.
Hull City Council has entered a two-year agreement with energy firm Lateral Power, giving the company sole negotiating rights on the 213-acre site near Hedon.
If approved, the development would create more than 700 jobs, while harnessing green food crop production and fish-farming.
The same morning, Vivergo Fuels welcomed Business Secretary Vince Cable for the official opening of its £350m biofuels plant.
The scheme at Saltend has created about 80 high-tech and long-term jobs, as well as supporting 1,000 indirect jobs in the supply chain and creating an additional 1,000 jobs during its construction.
Later that afternoon, Dr Cable confirmed Willerby laser manufacturer Rofin Sonar had been awarded £1m of Regional Growth Funding to help it press ahead with a £5m project which will see it relocate within East Yorkshire, creating almost 160 jobs.
And on Thursday, the proposed transformation of a 200-acre site near Paull for the offshore wind turbine manufacturing industry took a major step forward after the plans were awarded £18m from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
The area's dreams of becoming the UK's renewable energy hub hinges on a decision by Siemens to go ahead with its offshore wind turbine assembly plant in Hull.
There are still strong indicatons that Siemens remains committed to its Hull plant and an announcement on its plans is expected soon.
News of the RGF funding was welcomed by Siemens, which said the Paull development would "help bring forward additional opportunities for further supply chain development".
The Bridgehead Business Park is being developed by Hull firm Wykeland Group.
Believed to be the "greenest" business park in Yorkshire, it boasts sustainable technologies including a biomass boiler, solar PV panels, an electric car charging point and natural lighting.
Wykeland has been working on the plans for more than 15 years, working with local planners, residents and environmental groups.
MGuests, including East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby, gathered at the site to mark the official opening. They also included the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which has provided assistance to ensure the facility is also a haven for animals and the natural environment.
Paying tribute to developers for their persistence, Mr Johnson said: "It would've been so easy to give up but they recognise the need for employment in this area."
Mr Johnson said the park was also a strong sign of potential economic growth.
He said: "Stephen Parnaby and I were together at Saltend on Monday for the opening of Vivergo Fuels. Now, a few days later, we are here.
Speaking about Wykeland's 15-year journey to Bridgehead, group managing director Dominic Gibbons said patience was "probably an understatement".
He said: "Bridgehead stands at the only crossroads in the Humber region and represents the fulfillment of a vision first talked about during the construction of the Humber Bridge more than 30 years ago – a vision that is now becoming reality, and which will eventually house up to 3,000 jobs.
"This has been a 15-year journey and Bridgehead Business Park is a landmark development not only for The Wykeland Group but for the economy of the Hull, East Riding and the Humber region."
Councillor Stephen Parnaby, leader of East Riding Council, said: "It's been a busy week and, business-wise, you don't get much better ones, it makes a nice change.
"Vivergo Fuels is a massive, massive investment, the biggest in Europe and it's excellent news.
"With Bridgehead, Wykeland are a good local company, probably one of the best. The building we visited is a speculative one and you don't see many of those.
"It shows the confidence they've got and I think they're right. You do get the feeling that things are starting to move a little bit.
"The Paull announcement is something else. I don't think the Government would have announced that if they weren't confident Siemens were about to announce something."
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