Green Light for Whitby Maritime Hub Construction

North Yorkshire Council's executive has granted approval for the construction of the Whitby Maritime Hub to proceed, marking a significant step forward for the town's maritime sector.

The decision follows extensive consultations with over 30,000 local stakeholders, businesses, and organisations in 2020. The project, which secured £10 million from the Towns Fund in 2020, is now set to begin construction with a projected 13-month timeline.

The new hub is intended to capitalise on the growth of the maritime and offshore renewables sectors by providing business, research, and training facilities. It is hoped the hub will address socio-economic challenges, such as diversifying the local economy, creating high-quality jobs for younger people, and attracting partners in the offshore renewables industry. The facility aims to provide training and employment opportunities, targeting a younger demographic within Whitby.

Councillor Mark Crane expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating,

"This in my opinion is a good news story and it's a good news story for the people of Whitby".

He noted the strong support for the project, adding,

"This project was strongly supported by the Whitby Town Board and is also strongly reported I believe by the vast majority of people who live and work in Whitby".

Councillor Crane also mentioned that two large companies already in Whitby have shown interest in utilising the facility, alongside other local businesses and training providers.

Councillor Liz Colling, representing the area committee, voiced her full support for the scheme, acknowledging that it had previously been delayed. She stated,

"Can I please on behalf of the area committee express our full support for this scheme and thank you for progressing it because it seemed to have got into the doldrums for a weeny while".

Councillor Colling also expressed gratitude to the council for acknowledging possible cost overruns and noted that the project is vital for Whitby and said,

"we would not be in the business of giving 10 million pound back to government".

Concerns have been raised by residents regarding the risk of flooding and the loss of parking spaces during construction. Councillor Crane clarified that the building is designed to flood on the ground floor, which will house maritime-related activities.

Regarding parking, while acknowledging that some spaces would be lost during the 13-month construction period, Councillor Crane assured that efforts will be made to encourage use of the existing park and ride service.

The project's total cost is £10.162 million, with £10 million coming from the Towns Fund and the rest from North Yorkshire Council. The construction contract is with Willmott Dixon, and the council will appoint a consultant project manager and supervisor. The council has identified potential financial risks including those relating to:

• Potential cost overruns
• The building's internal fit-out
• A potential income gap if tenant occupancy is low
• Loss of car parking income during construction and after

The building is located within Flood Zone 3b and its use is restricted to "water compatible" activities. These restrictions mean the building must accommodate activities such as docks, marinas, wharves, and water-based recreation. The council will initially operate the building in-house with the possibility of transferring operations to a Community Interest Company (CIC) in the future.

Councillor Crane said that the project shows the council's commitment to investing in projects in teh Yorkshire Coast seaside towns.

The Whitby Maritime Hub is expected to be fully operational by Spring 2026.