The race to grab a 'once in a generation opportunity' for Lincolnshire
The next five years will be critical in ensuring that Lincolnshire benefits from thousands of jobs which will be created on its border, a council says.
Former coal power stations along the Trent Valley are set to be reinvented as innovative fusion, hydrogen and digital technology projects, potentially worth up to £ 2.25 billion to the area.
There are expected to be as many as 15,000 new roles, which Lincolnshire County Council’s head of investment describes as a “once in a generation opportunity”.
However, it would also place greater demand on the infrastructure which future workers would rely on, such as roads, homes and health services.
A report discussed at the growth committee on Tuesday, October 20, says 2026 to 2030 are crucial years in ensuring that the transformation becomes a benefit, not a burden, for the county.
Vanessa Strange, head of Infrastructure and Investment, said: “The work we’re doing now will ensure we’re ready for the decades ahead – the 2030s and ‘40s.
“£1.5billion to £2.25billion is a staggering amount of money which the cluster could be worth over that period of time.
“We want to make sure Lincolnshire residents and businesses benefit from some of that investment.
“The pressures around growth are something we’re always alive to. We want to work with regional colleagues to ensure infrastructure meets those needs, whether it’s roads, housing or even the skills businesses need.”
The so-called ‘Trent Supercluster’ will include the STEP nuclear fusion project at West Burton, green hydrogen production at High Marnham, and energy and digital technology at Cottam.
Lincoln, Gainsborough and other areas close to the former power stations are expected to help supply the skills and manpower for the projects.
Coun Matt Boles, who represents Gainsborough, said the town was already “living and breathing” the future possibilities on their doorstep.
“The one thing that does concern me and residents is the infrastructure. We need to start putting plans in place around housing, highways, and the NHS,” he told the meeting.
“If we will get all these people living and working in Gainsborough, where will they go to the doctors and dentists? The council needs to pull everyone together.”