Proposed £1bn electric cable manufacturing facility at Port of Tyne goes to consultation
LS Eco Advanced Cables (LSEAC) has launched a five-week public consultation on its proposals to develop a high-voltage cable production facility at the Port of Tyne, for undersea electricity transmission. This is intended to transport clean energy generated by offshore wind onto UK shores. While plans are at an early stage and still being finalized, total investment is expected to be approximately £923m (US$1.2m).
Enhanced facilities
This proposal would see a facility to manufacture deep-sea cables built on land within the Port of Tyne (South side, Tyne Dock). The industrial complex would include a series of buildings – including a manufacturing space, testing facilities and offices, situated around a 202m tall tower where the cables would be stretched and sheathed before use.
According to the port, the facility would lead to 500 direct jobs and a 1,000 more across the wider supply chain, including in high-skilled roles in engineering. Along with the North East Combined Authority and the Port of Tyne, LSEAC will work with the region’s schools, colleges and universities to provide training and re-training in the skills needed at the facility, ensuring generations of Northeast people benefit from the huge employment opportunities.
Consultation
To provide their feedback, members of the public are encouraged to visit the project’s website or attend one of two consultation events. The consultation will run from May 14-June 18, 2025, and provides an opportunity for local communities, businesses and organizations to give their feedback on the proposed development before the final planning application is made to South Tyneside Council later this year.
Matt Beeton, CEO of the Port of Tyne, stated, “The proposed cable manufacturing facility is a huge generational employment opportunity for people in the North East and complements the region’s already impressive advanced manufacturing sector. It demonstrates the ability of the region to attract significant international investors to support the clean energy transition, with the Port of Tyne at its heart.”
Sangdon Lee, director at LS Eco Advanced Cables, said, “At a time when the UK is moving ever more quickly to decarbonizing its energy supply, now more than ever there is a huge need for the infrastructure underpinning that transition. We’re delighted as a joint venture to be proposing this facility for a sub-sea cable development, but we must make it sure it works for the local community. That’s why we deeply value the input of everyone in the area to this consultation and encourage people to share their views and shape the future of this project.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness commented, “We are leading the way to bring this incredible new facility to our region and with it thousands of new jobs. LS Eco Advanced Cables will truly establish Northeast England as the home of the green energy revolution while also supporting the nation’s drive for energy security.
“This long-term investment will create a new industrial icon – a symbol of our ambition on a global scale to compare with the Swan Hunter cranes that once overlooked the Tyne. This is a hugely exciting project for the region and shows we are building for the future – that we are the home of green energy, and that we are open for business with the world.”
In related news, ABB recently secured an order with Norwegian shipyard Ulstein Verft to supply a hybrid power and propulsion system for a forthcoming cable-laying vessel (CLV) of energy transition company Nexans. Click here to read the full story
