Reform Energy, which bought the land from Associated British Ports, said interested parties should contact it as soon as possible. It aims to construct a £60M waste-to-energy plant there, but stressed neither the plant nor the wider development would be operational until late 2016.
The energy plant on Jameson Road would create 40 jobs locally during its construction, commissioning and operation, said Reform Energy. It would also provide a competitive source of green energy to operate the refrigeration and cooking systems at the fish park.
The plant’s combined recovered energy output could power up to 8,000 homes with 10MW of electricity and up to 24MW of heat, using 80,000t of recovered commercial waste material as fuel, said Reform Energy.
‘Fantastic opportunity’
Wyre Borough Council ceo Garry Payne said: “The fish park development is a fantastic opportunity which will contribute millions of pounds to the local economy, and could result in 150 new jobs as well as securing the 600 jobs already represented by the fish processing industry in Fleetwood.
“Fishing is a proud part of the town’s heritage and is now secured as a vibrant element in the town’s future.”
“This development will bring a new economic energy to Fleetwood with the creation of the fish park and also addresses two issues dominating the green agenda – delivering more energy generation from sustainable resources and reducing waste going to landfill,” said Reform Energy ceo John Potter.
‘Flagship location’
“Fleetwood will become a flagship location in the UK for energy recovery technology, and Reform Energy intends to use the plant as a showpiece for other generation and regeneration projects across the region.”
In February Reform Energy received a conditional offer for a £2.5M grant through the UK government’s Regional Growth Fund to help create the infrastructure for the project.
The fish industry in Fleetwood already generates £135M-a-year, and employs more than 600 people, making it the town’s single biggest form of industry. Fish caught in other areas, mainly Scotland, are brought into the town by road and prepared for markets across Britain and overseas.
Planning permission for the plant was originally granted in 2011. Since then the Reform Energy team has been working with partners to assemble the complete package of funding and site acquisition to deliver the energy recovery plant and the fish park.