The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
South Holland’s economy could take off with plans to create a deep port off The Wash.
A huge £2bn project has been unveiled by a Horncastle-based business Port-Evo.
“It will have benefits for the whole area,” said director James Sutcliffe.
A barrier would be created between Wainfleet and a point in Norfolk yet to be determined, and a road link created joining the two counties.
The scheme would use tidal energy turbines and energy giant Centrica has already given an expression of interest in the initiative.
It will be the first tidal-powered deep sea container terminal and will take around three years to construct. Work has already been going on behind the scenes for two years, and a full feasibility is likely to take another two years.
The plans went public over this week with a presentation to international businesses at the House of Commons outlining the details of the scheme.
“This is a major £2billion renewable energy and flood infrastructure project that involves building a hydro electric dam across The Wash estuary, linking South East Lincolnshire with North East Norfolk,” says the company website.
Mr Sutcliffe said that while Wainfleet had been settled on as the Lincolnshire ‘touch point’ the Norfolk site was yet to be confirmed.
The project will see a tidal energy system creating enough power for around 600,000 homes with night-time surpluses used to create green hydrogen for industry and agriculture.
And the scheme will protect low-lying areas including South Holland from future flooding.
“The hydro-electric dam will protect the Fens from Lincoln, to Peterborough and Cambridge.
“Climate change will almost certainly cause sea levels around the UK to increase by 1m or more in the future, and this could be as early as 2100,” says the company website.
A huge container terminal will be created on the barrier with the capacity to handle ships carrying 23,000, 20ft containers.
Port-Evo says it will offer roll-on roll-off facilities to see ships in port for less time.
Mr Sutcliffe said the hydro-electric dam would still allow for tidal flows and protect The Wash, a crucial environmental and ecological site.
His company was behind a multi-million pound redevelopment of Gdansk Port in Poland, and he said he was confident The Wash scheme would attract investment and be a huge benefit to the area.
Some 1,000 jobs would be created during construction and more than 300 in the longer term.
The full details can be seen at www.centreport.uk
