A MAJOR global healthcare company is looking to set up a new base in Hull, the Mail can reveal.
Details of the firm are currently being kept under wraps ahead of an official announcement expected to be made in November.
However, the Mail understands the investment could create up to 200 jobs.
It is believed the company is looking to establish a base close to the new Green Port Hull development on Alexandra Dock, which this week received final planning permission from Hull City Council.
It is thought the former Hedon Road Maternity Hospital site is being lined up as the likely location.
City council leader Councillor Steve Brady said: "One the things we have always said getting the Siemens deal over the line is that it will hopefully attract other big companies to look at Hull.
"I cannot discuss in detail what is going on the moment with this one but I am confident it is going to happen and it will be more good news for the city."
He said the prospect of the former hospital site being redeveloped meant more activity on one of the city's enterprise zones, which were created with the specific aim of attracting new investment and jobs.
Cllr Brady said: "It's a fantastic site and I'm just glad we never went down the road of building houses on there, which was an option a couple of years ago."
With planning approval now secured for the Siemens facility, Cllr Brady said the areas around Hedon Road could look forward to becoming a hive of activity over the next few years.
"We are getting a lot of encouraging enquiries from people considering setting up here because we have a number of attractive sites on offer at the right price," he said.
"That's down to the hard work being put in by our regeneration team and the attraction of Siemens. "However, there's still a long way to go.
"We have to create 7,000 jobs in Hull just to get on an even keel with other places in the country, so there is no question of resting on our laurels just because Siemens are coming here.
"We have got to close that gap rapidly and ensure people have the right skills when these jobs come up.
"Those skills don't necessarily have to be for jobs with Siemens because there will be other opportunities coming through."
Initial construction work on Alexandra Dock is expected to start before the end of the year, with the Siemens facility there expected to be operational by mid-2016.
Finbarr Dowling, Siemens' project director for Hull, said detailed planning applications for the company's proposed blade manufacturing plant in Paull would be submitted to East Riding Council very soon.
"The Paull site is very different to Alexandra Dock so there are a lot of different issues to cover in the applications for the facility we are going to build there," he said.
"Even so, we are on schedule to open that facility in spring 2017."
