Siemens bid to move Lincoln turbine works approved

A proposal to move one of Lincolnshire's largest private firms to a new site has been approved by district councillors.

North Kesteven District Council has approved plans by engineering giant Siemens to move to Teal Park just off the A46 bypass.

Project spokesman Steve Prosser said it would protect at least 500 jobs.

Work has started on preparation of the site and the £20m project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

"Phase one will mean 500 highly-paid, skilled jobs will remain in the region and that has to be good news in the challenging times that we see today," Mr Prosser said.

The company employs about 1,500 people in the Lincoln area.

Siemens will relocate its operations at Firth Road and Olympic House as well as its Ruston Works site to the new site.

The project would consolidate the firm's gas turbine service activities into new offices and workshops and would have room for future expansion, the company said.