Jobs boost as £30m work starts on new recycling plant

More than 100 jobs and £100million investment could be coming to Hartlepool through a new plant to turn food waste into electricity.

Up to 80 construction jobs could be on the way as the first phase of the new green energy park in Hartlepool gets underway, with an initial investment of £30million.

Work is expected to start in the next few weeks at the Biopower Group Ltd development in the town’s Brenda Road.

The new facility is expected to create 25 permanent jobs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A further two phases could also result in a further £100million investment at the site, says the firm’s Hartlepool-born chief Steve Winspear.

Planning permission for the economy-boosting development was granted in April.

Bosses say the facility uses proven clean technology to convert local food waste, which was previously destined for landfill, into electricity which is then put into the National Grid.

The project is expected to take around 18 months to complete, but electricity could be generated for the National Grid as early as next spring from the 23-acre site.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is anticipated that the development will produce sufficient level of electricity to power around 4,000 homes a year.

Town businessman Steve Winspear, managing director of Biopower Group Ltd, praised Hartlepool Borough Council for their involvement.

He said: “A lot of hard work and effort has gone in to get us to this stage and the forward-thinking approach by Hartlepool council has helped this substantial investment become a reality.

“There is scope on the site for two further phases which potentially could result in £100m of investment overall into the Hartlepool economy.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The new development has been praised as a boost for the town.

Hartlepool Borough Council bosses have hailed the new facility and have welcomed the boost to the town’s economy.

Councillor Kevin Cranney, chair of the council’s Regeneration Services Committee, said the state-of-the-art development will have a positive impact on the town’s “green credentials”.

He said: “This state-of-the-art development will result in significant investment in Hartlepool and much needed jobs which has to be welcomed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The food waste will be sourced locally and converted into electricity for the National Grid, raising Hartlepool’s green credentials in the process.”

There’s also the opportunity for businesses near the site to source their energy directly from the energy park which is seen as an incentive to attract other firms to the town.