Yorkshire Energy Park 'to bring 1,000 jobs'

A former aerodrome site at Preston, near Hull, has been earmarked for the project

A £200m energy park could create more than 1,000 jobs, developers have said.

Yorkshire Energy Park, earmarked for a former aerodrome field near Hull, could also boost the local economy by £600m.

The plans include a data centre, education campus, warehouses and a power station supplying energy to the site.

Sewell Group estimates an extra 120 jobs would be created during the eight to 10-year construction period, expected to start in early 2018.

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The former aerodrome field is in Preston, near Hull, and owned by the city council.

An outline planning application is due to be submitted this month.

Proposals for the Yorkshire Energy Park also includes sports facilities

The developer said: "The proposed £200m Yorkshire Energy Park could create more than 1,000 jobs and generate a multi-million pound investment boost for the Yorkshire and Humber economy with every £1 invested expected to have an impact of £3 on the local economy from the construction phase alone."

Several global companies have backed the project including IBM, Vodafone and Chinese telecom giant ZTE.

Matt Jukes, chief executive of Hull City Council, said the aerodrome site was "of key strategic importance" and the council was going to make the most of the energy park's impact on the region.

A public consultation is under way and the proposals are on show in Hedon, Paull, Preston and Thorngumbald this week.

The project is a joint venture between Sewell, Eco Parks Developments Ltd and renewable energy company Chiltern.