Cancellation of Norfolk offshore wind farm seen as a “severe blow” to the region
Leading figures in the region’s renewable energy sector have expressed “deep concern” over Vattenfall’s cancellation of the Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm after a 40 per cent rise in costs made the project unviable. “The decision comes as a blow to the UK’s renewable energy ambitions and has far-reaching negative impacts on the UK supply chain and job market,” said Johnathan Reynolds, managing director of Norfolk-based clean energy consultancy Opergy Group and LEP board member alongside Martin Dronfield, commercial director and East of England Energy Group board member. They added: “Vattenfall’s decision, driven by rising costs, has created a significant setback for the development of offshore wind power in the Norfolk region, and the UK. The offshore wind industry has long been hailed as a driver of economic growth, providing a wealth of supply chain opportunities and supporting local communities. The cancellation of Norfolk Boreas deals a severe blow to the region’s potential for job creation, stifling economic progress at a time when it is needed the most.” Higher inflation and capital costs, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties and lack of political incentives, have made offshore wind and its supply chain particularly vulnerable. The 1.4 GW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind project off the coast of Britain was planned to power around 1.5 million homes. Two other Norfolk offshore sites planned by the Swedish state energy company Vattenfall – Vanguard East and Vanguard West – are also reported to be under review.“ Opergy Group called on the government to take action to address the issues plaguing the offshore wind sector.
Major new developments planned in Cambridge to ‘supercharge Europe’s science capital’
Plans for major new urban developments Cambridge are to be drawn up as part of the government’s mission to boost house building through major schemes on brownfield sites in cities. It is also expected to involve lab space for the region’s life sciences and tech sectors in a bid to ‘supercharge Europe’s science capital’. In a speech this week, Michael Gove, levelling up, housing and communities secretary, said: “…Cambridge’s future potential has been circumscribed by a lack of new space for lab capacity and research activity. And also by the constraints on new housing which have priced new graduates out of the market and have also made attracting and retaining talent harder.” He noted that in 2021, the US city Boston had 6 million sq ft of lab space under development; in an average year, Cambridge and Oxford together managed just 300,000 sq ft. He set out plans for a Cambridge Delivery Group under Homes England chairman Peter Freeman and with a £5 million budget. Meanwhile a new “supersquad” of expert planners to unblock major housing and infrastructure developments will be formed and will first land in Cambridge to ‘turbocharge development’. He added: “We are going to develop a vision for Cambridge, a vision that will involve growing beautiful integrated neighbourhoods and healthy communities while supercharging innovation and protecting green spaces.”
Contractor appointed for new £25 million diagnostics centre near Norfolk hospital
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern counties business to deliver a new £25 million diagnostic centre near to the hospital. The new 40,000 sq. ft structure will be next to the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park and connect the existing infrastructure at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to the new services. A steel frame will be installed with brick façade in keeping with the rest of the university hospital estate and carbon reduction measures will be applied in the design and construction. Meanwhile, The new centre will include five MRI machines, four CT scanners, two Ultrasound rooms and two X-Ray machines. Morgan Sindall Construction has worked widely in the health sector in the region. It recently topped-out the Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice in Norwich and has worked at James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth. Alister Broadberry, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern counties, said: “Bringing essential, specialist services closer to local communities is paramount in serving the area in which we operate, as new facilities such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s diagnostic centre will play a key role in supporting patients and healthcare staff in the rapid diagnosis of disease…”
Farmland prices touch record high but may see ‘downward pressure’
Arable land prices in England reached a record high in the first half of this year although higher interest rates and a squeeze on farm profitability may put pressure on prices in future. The average value of arable land rose by 2 per cent to £11,100 during the first six months of the year following a 15 per cent rise in 2022 according to Strutt & Parker’s database covering publicly marketed farmland. However, the average value of pasture land dropped back on 2022 levels. Matthew Sudlow, head of estates & farm agency for Strutt & Parker, said: “Record prices reflect the strong demand we have seen for farmland from a wide range of buyers, coupled with a shortage in farms and estates for sale. However, in recent weeks we have noticed rising interest rates and squeezed farm profitability are making farmer buyers more cautious where they are reliant on the proceeds of their farming activities, rather than rollover money. As this trend is gradually reflected in our data, we may see some downward pressure on average values, although we are not expecting any dramatic changes.” Despite a slight cooling of demand from farmer buyers the market is expected to remain active and buoyant throughout 2023.
Pork producer invests £5 million in King’s Lynn site
Pork producer Pilgrim’s UK is making a series of changes to boost efficiency and capacity at its King’s Lynn site in Norfolk as part of a £5 million investment which will increase outputs by up to 15 per cent per week. A programme over the last 24 months has brought improved yields, efficiency and reduced waste at the King’s Lynn plant along with a culture of continuous improvement. The site has invested £800,000 in automation in its packing facility and new meat slicing and packing technology which has increased the line capacity. The site is also seeing an investment of an additional £600,000 to drive greenhouse gas and energy reduction which has helped to replace the site’s vehicle fleet with electric alternatives. The firm is also reducing plastics going direct to incineration. Dave Parker, site director at Pilgrim’s UK, said: “We have put a tremendous amount of effort and focus into our packaging lines to enhance our sustainability credentials. This investment forms the next step in our commitment to the ever-evolving UK market.”
Separately, Suffolk-based CMG Technologies has been acquired by Indo-MIM, the world’s largest specialist in metal injection moulding (MIM) which has bases in the USA and India. Rendlesham-based CMG is a specialist in MIM and metal 3D printing and the company says the acquisition will allow it to build on its success and growth.
Engineering company invests in new site on fomer golf course
M&C Engineering is investing in a new site and development at a former golf course, Waldringfield Golf and Leisure Club near Ipswich, which it acquired with an adjoining ex-demolition yard in April 2021. Two additional light industrial units in the yard have received planning permission and five existing structures are being refurbished and restored with the latest environmental technology. Some 80 acres of the 100 acre golf course acquired are being restored to their natural gorse habitat and the business has invested heavily over the last year in depolluting the old demolition yard ahead of new development. A long-term sustainability strategy has seen an investment in 30kw three phase solar panels on the existing club house, with further solar panels planned. Director and owner James Couch said: “As our business has got bigger, we started to feel the squeeze at our old unit and it was starting to hinder our growth, so when this opportunity came up, to acquire the site, it was a no brainer for us. The investment that we have and are undertaking, helps to protect the future of our business and creates more opportunities for local employment, which can only be a good thing.” The light industrial units which have received planning permission are 6000 sq. ft and 4000 sq. foot and the clubhouse has been refurbished by M&C and is let as offices for other local businesses. Further development will involve restoring it downstairs to a wedding and corporate venue.
Photo: James Couch (left) and fellow joint director and owner Richard Shipp.
Law firm appoints six new associates
Ashtons Legal has appointed three new senior associates and a further three new associates from within the firm. Promoted to senior associate level are Sameena Manzar, who works in Ashtons’ family team in Cambridge; Jess Piper who works in employment in Norwich and David Sloman, who work in the firm’s corporate and commercial team in Norwich. Promoted to associates are Dannii Elliott who works in Bury St Edmunds in the firm’s Court of Protection team with Zinzi Hoxsie and Jennifer Valentine, who both work in lifetime planning in Bury. On the way to their promotions, all completed the ‘Becoming an Effective Leader and Leading Effective Teams’ programmes that Ashtons’ deliver internally. Ashtons CEO James Tarling said: “These appointments demonstrate the commitment we have to investing in the professional development of our staff and I would like to personally congratulate all on this huge achievement. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm and to recognise the work they all do to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond”.
Photo (l-r): Sameena Manzar, Jennifer Valentine, Zinzi Hoxsie and Dannii Elliott.
Agency shortlisted in six categories at regional awards
East of England communications agency PLMR Genesis has been shortlisted in six categories at the 2023 Chartered Institute of Public Relations PRide Awards for the Anglia, Thames and Chiltern region. They include the overall PR Consultancy of the Year title which it has won for the past four years. Suffolk-based PLMR Genesis, formed in 2004, is in the running for the best channel delivery, best event, best long-term campaign, and best long-term client care awards. The agency also has the sole shortlisted entry in the low budget campaign category after designing and delivering PR activity to help the Suffolk Show attract a record-breaking crowd of over 90,000 visitors for its 2022 event. Ali Straker, director of PR and content at PLMR Genesis, said: “Our teams have excelled once again over the past year, delivering results-driven communications strategies for our clients across a range of disciplines and platforms. This fantastic set of shortlistings in every category we entered is a clear reflection of our consultant’s creativity, work ethic and teamwork.
Trainee accountant shares national prize after achieving top marks
Trainee accountant Katie Orbell (photo), who works for Lovewell Blake in Norwich,
has shared the prestigious Howitt Prize from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales after she achieved joint top marks in the financial management exams. She joined the firm two years ago as a graduate trainee after completing a degree in mathematics at the University of East Anglia, and has a further year before she completes her studies and becomes a chartered accountant. Lovewell Blake partner Toby Wilson said:“This is a fantastic achievement, topping the nation’s candidates in a set of very tough professional exams.” The Howitt Prize was set up in 1966 by Sir Harold Gibson Howitt, a prominent accountant who undertook a long series of public commissions and was a long-time member of the ICAEW Council.
