Humber Freeport to benefit from new Government cash injections

Three Humber Freeport sites are to get cash injections

18:46, 25 Feb 2026

An aerial view of Saltend Chemicals Park.(Image: Supplied)

Humber Freeport is set to benefit from new Government[1] funding. Over GBP3 million is set to be injected into freeport sites across England, Scotland, and Wales, the Government has announced.

GBP3.3m will be split between 16 Industrial Strategy Zones projects across the country.

Three of the sites are within Humber[2] Freeport.

GBP350,000 is to be injected into the Goole[3] Tax Site near Siemens Mobility's rail village. The funding will be for grid scoping and a biodiversity study to de-risk infrastructure and unlock development.

The Goole site is also set to be home to the FREEPORT 36 development which is to create 3,000 jobs in Goole, and a further 5,500 in the wider Yorkshire and the Humber region. Work on the site could begin this year[4].

GBP460,000 is to be injected into the Hull East site which includes the Port of Hull and Saltend Chemicals Park. The money will be used to create a refreshed masterplan and infrastructure design aimed to restore investor confidence in clean energy and chemical production.

Investor confidence in the site would have taken a hit following the closure of Vivergo Fuels last year[5].

The site, which was the UK's largest bioethanol producer, closed as a result of the US-UK trade deal which included the removal of the 19% tariff on ethanol imports from the United States.

Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here's more information[6] about what this means and how to do it - you can also do it straight away by clicking here[7].

There were hopes the Government would step in to save the site, with local politicians from across the political spectrum backing the campaign[8]. However, a Government spokesperson said that saving the site via direct funding "would not provide value for the taxpayer or solve the long-term problems the industry faces."

The largest amount given to the Humber is set to go to the Able Humber Port where GBP490,000 is to go towards a nationally significant offshore wind manufacturing hub. The Immingham site seeks to become one of Europe's leading renewable hubs.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed(Image: PA)

Cash injections will also go to 13 other sites across the country, including those on Merseyside, in Plymouth, and in Wales.

Commenting on the announcement, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said:

"From offshore wind manufacturing on the Humber to new clean energy facilities in Pembrokeshire, this backing for our Freeports will generate real economic growth across the country.

By tackling the barriers that developers face early on, we're enabling significant private investment with the potential to create thousands of good jobs in clean energy and advanced manufacturing."

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal[9] .

References

1. ^ Government (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Humber (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Goole (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Work on the site could begin this year (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ closure of Vivergo Fuels last year (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ Here's more information (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ clicking here (www.google.com)
8. ^ local politicians from across the political spectrum backing the campaign (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
9. ^ Public Notices Portal (publicnoticeportal.uk)