Proposals unveiled for landmark subsea cable manufacturing site on Northumberland coast

Plans for subsea cable manufacturing site move forward.

Proposals for the creation of a subsea cable manufacturing facility in Northumberland, which could create 170 jobs, have been presented to the public.

Global subsea cable and umbilical supplier and servicer JDR Cable Systems (JDR), part of TFKable Group, unveiled detailed proposals for the development of the site at Northumberland Energy Park at a public consultation meeting at Cambois Primary School.

The public were able to view an exhibition of plans for an advanced manufacturing and technology building and its associated infrastructure, car parking and landscaping, and discuss the proposals with the JDR project team.

In September, JDR announced its intention to build the manufacturing facility in Cambois, creating local jobs and safeguarding a further 270 at the company's existing facilities.

The facility will support the growth of the UK's offshore wind sector, with investment in the initial project estimated at £130m, which will be part funded by a grant from the BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme.

Construction at the site – the former home of Blyth Power Station – is expected to begin in 2022 ahead of an opening in 2024.

Northumberland Energy Park is part of Energy Central, the UK's port-based service, investment and growth cluster for companies operating in the offshore energy, subsea, decommissioning, battery manufacturing and renewable energy markets.

Cllr Jeff Watson, chair of Advance Northumberland commented: "Energy Central puts South East Northumberland at the heart of renewable energy in the UK and JDR's planned investment – along with Britishvolt's Gigafactory and other developments around the Blyth estuary – will help to boost supply chain opportunities and attract further investment from regional, national and international businesses.

"This will create more and better jobs in Northumberland and give our young people the opportunity to enter the offshore wind, renewable energy, subsea engineering and advanced manufacturing industries right here on their doorstep."

James Young, chief strategy and Compliance officer at JDR Cable Systems, added: "This public consultation event gave local people a real opportunity to have their say on the proposed development and let us know their views.

"The development of a new JDR site in Cambois can play a major role in the UK's transition to a low carbon economy and if the proposals go ahead, will represent a big win for Cambois and the Energy Central cluster."