NEW £600m Development plans Finalised

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NPL Estates have signed a ground breaking agreement with Welsh Power to deliver an 850MW CCGT (combined-cycle gas turbine) power station project in Hillhouse International Business Park, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire.

The owners, NPL Estates working closely with Wyre Borough Council, have successfully concluded with Welsh Power a £600million development plan to build a new 850MW power station.The project is part of the larger redevelopment of the 800 acre site acquired from ICI and which now employs over 1400 people.

As part of the project, a full consultation exercise will be undertaken by NPL with local businesses and residents before a formal planning application is made to the Government Department for Business, Enterprise and Regional Reform (BERR).

The site was previously given consent for a gas-fired power station but it lapsed some time ago. It is expected that the development of the new power station will create 650 jobs during construction and once completed will employ 40 highly skilled permanent people. It is expected that the connection to the national gird will be in 2012.

NPL Managing Director, Simon Towers, said: “This is exciting news for the site and the area in general. The ability to generate power at Hillhouse will help us to attract more large manufacturing and process companies joining with those already on site and thereby securing solid employment for the future, bringing more prosperity to Wyre and adding to the vibrant business community which we have helped create.”

Commenting on the announcement, Alex Lambie, Chief Executive of Welsh
Power, said: “Given the small number of sites connecting to the national grid this is a major milestone in the continuing expansion of the Welsh Power Group. As we have demonstrated with the development of Severn Power, Welsh Power prides itself on being a good neighbour, and we will ensure that Wyre Power contributes to the local economy and benefits local people. In particular we will be looking to ensure that contracts are placed locally wherever possible.”

This is another step in the ongoing process of the redevelopment programme NPL has been working on for the past 8 years. The company has transformed what was a derelict brownfield site and Hillhouse Business Park is now once again a thriving business location thanks to the commitment and substantial inward investment of NPL Estates. Capital investment on the Park is currently running in excess of £130 million, targeted at new builds, extensions to existing plants and upgrading site infrastructure.


Since NPL took over the ownership and management of Hillhouse
Business Park there are now some 45 wide-ranging businesses on site covering a wide spectrum of differing skills from maintenance, construction, engineering and professional people for the UK, Mainland Europe and the Far East.

This exciting new project will also enhance the comprehensive mixed-use development being delivered by NPL working in partnership with Wyre Borough Council which is based around building a new sustainable community.

Wyre Borough Council Leader Councillor Russell Forsyth said: “At a time when the economy is in decline the proposal represents a significant investment into the borough and if approved will generate power for thousands of homes and businesses.

Welsh Power is a well-established major national company and I can assure local residents that we will ensure they are given every opportunity to comment upon the proposal. I must stress, however, that this proposal is not connected with the Canatxx application, which was refused earlier in the year for gas storage. This proposal will be connected to the existing main gas pipeline that runs in a north south direction.”

Wyre Borough Council Director of Planning & Regeneration Garry Payne said: “The concept of modern power generation at this strategic employment site would compliment the existing businesses and could be the catalyst for further inward investment. A wide-ranging consultation exercise will be undertaken prior to the submission of any applications to the relevant government department.”

NPL partners Robert McFarlane and Eric Taylor stated: “From the outset, NPL has built and maintained strong links with the local community and with support from the local authority have taken one of the largest derelict brownfield sites in the north west of England and transformed it into one of the most
successful for real growth delivering new investment and employment for the whole area.”


For further information please contact:
Isabel Barnes, Operations Director, NPL Estates – 0141 242 7900