Hillhouse International Enterprise Zone attracts Chinese investment

A Chinese delegation has visited Hillhouse International Enterprise Zone (EZ) in Thornton Cleveleys in a bid to create a power station that could bring £800m investment to the site.

Wyre Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NPL Group which is promoting and developing a large gas fired power station at Hillhouse, also owned by NPL Group, within the Northern Powerhouse region.

Robert McFarlane, chairman of NPL Group, was therefore delighted to invite the vice presidents and senior teams from China Power Engineering Consulting Group Corporation Ltd (CPECC) and China National Electric Engineering Co Ltd (CNEEC) on a tour of Hillhouse and the Fylde Coast last week.

The visit was well received and culminated in a lunch hosted by Wyre Council at the Civic Centre in Poulton.

Xue Danfeng, vice president of China Power Engineering Consulting Group Corporation Ltd (CPECC), said: "This is our first time in the UK and our first chance to get to know the UK energy market. I would like to thank the Government officials and all those who have welcomed us. This is a good sign for us because Government support gives us the confidence to invest in the UK.

"From a planning and management point of view Hillhouse is a very high standard business park. We notice many companies already joining and recognise the potential for development. Local government support encourages our investment interest for this area.

The development will be delivered under the government’s Development Consent Order (DCO) process and the Wyre Power team is working towards a submission in summer 2017 with public consultations taking place in the new year. Hillhouse is one of four enterprise zones in Lancashire along with Samlesbury, Warton and Blackpool Airport, which combine to provide a world class offer to investors and occupiers in the advanced manufacturing, energy and engineering sectors.