A bid was made by Reform Energy with a plan to develop land in Fleetwood into a fish park and create an innovative energy recovery plant adjacent to the park.
The funding will be used to create a fish park on land at the docks, creating new accommodation for existing fish processing businesses and expanding the industry.
According to local press reports, up to 150 jobs look set to be created at the site, although not all of those would be at the fish park itself.
“This is fantastic news, not just for Fleetwood but the whole borough,” councillor Pete Murphy, cabinet member with responsibility for economic development at the local authority, Wyre Council, said.
‘Massive positive impact’
“It's not just about a fish park though. There will be jobs created at the energy plant, in construction and possibly new retail and housing. It will have a massive positive impact with long term benefits.”
The announcement followed a visit to the area by communities and local government minister Penny Mordaunt MP last week at the request of Eric Ollerenshaw, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood. During the visit, she acknowledged the potential of the project and praised the passion of local people to make it work.
When she made the visit, Mordaunt said: “I think there’s obviously a tremendous history with trawling and all the industry that comes from the fishing industry here.
“We really want to see a renaissance in that so there is a bid in to government, the Regional Growth Fund, looking at funding to really unlock the potential of this site to really upgrade the fish processing facilities here but also unlock land, unlock the full potential for other businesses to come in.”
Ollerenshaw said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Fleetwood Fish Park project has been allocated £2.5M.The idea of regenerating Fleetwood and the fish processing industry with a fish park has been around for a while.
‘Vote of confidence’
“I am really proud to have played my part in getting this money on the table to finally get this project started and my thanks to Reform Energy and Wyre Council for their work in supporting and designing this successful bid. This is another vote of confidence in the future of our town.”
Councillor Peter Gibson, leader of Wyre Council, said: “I would like to thank Eric for all his hard work in making this come about and the minister for coming to Fleetwood and recognising the potential that can be released with a fish park. I would also like to thank the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership for their support in this bid.”
The Regional Growth Fund supports projects that also raise private sector investment to create economic growth and employment.