Energy Central Campus

Energy Central Campus is made up of two education, training and skills facilities focusing on STEM education, sector-led training, higher level skills, innovation, research and development to further support growth in the clean energy sector in Blyth and the wider North East.

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Energy Central Campus

The campus will equip young people and adults with the skills needed to take up careers in the sector, enable local companies to grow through access to a skilled workforce and support them to adopt the latest innovations in clean growth technology. It will demonstrate to businesses and potential investors that Blyth is ready to meet their growth needs.

The Energy Central Campus project is part of the Energising Blyth programme. Phase one, the Energy Central Learning Hub at South Harbour, Port of Blyth features a range of state-of-the-art industrial training, education and STEM-related skills facilities.

Phase two, The Energy Central Institute to be located in the town centre is yet to be submitted for planning approval but the proposed project will focus on higher level skills, research and innovation in support of clean energy sector growth.

Energy Central Learning Hub

This flagship facility will further strengthen the area’s leading role in driving the clean energy revolution.

Funded by the UK Government logo

The Energy Central Learning Hub will provide a range of state-of-the-art industrial training, education and STEM-related skills facilities, with construction set to start in October 2022 at Port of Blyth and due to be completed in winter 2023. The new 2,396sqm Hub will include major conferencing capabilities, events space, and a lecture theatre to encourage collaboration between employers, education institutions and research facilities.

Concept art of the energy central hub in Blyth



Construction is underway at Port of Blyth and due to be completed in Autumn 2024. July 2023 marked the official breaking ground of the facility.

The project is being delivered by Advance Northumberland with appointed contractors Galliford Try on behalf of Northumberland County Council and the Energy Central Partnership.

It is funded by HM Government’s Towns Fund, North of Tyne Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council.



New flagship learning facility announces Northumberland Skills as second educational partner

Blyth-based Energy Central Learning Hub has welcomed a new educational partner, Northumberland Skills, to deliver training in the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors.

Northumberland Skills, Northumberland County Council’s post-16 education provider, will house its latest campus at the new training and skills facility located at the Port of Blyth.

Enrolment is currently open for its advanced manufacturing and renewable energy qualifications which will be delivered from September to school leavers and those looking to retrain at the new facility.

Northumberland Skills’ training will complement the existing learning offering from Bede Academy, which was announced as a partner last year. Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, cabinet member with responsibility for Inspiring Young People, at Northumberland County Council said: “This is an incredible opportunity for people across Northumberland, and beyond, to seize the opportunity to follow a career in clean energy and engineering.

If you are interested in finding out more and enrolling for September 2024, visit www.northumberlandskills.co.uk/energy

A group of people standing in front of construction site for the new Energy central hub

Bede Academy announced as educational partner for Blyth's new learning facility 

Bede Academy has been named as the first educational partner at Blyth’s new Energy Central Learning Hub. 
 
The partnership brings industry led T Levels to the town for the first time and will set students on the pathway to the latest skilled careers in the technology and engineering sectors. 

There are two Engineering T Levels to choose from, as well as a Digital T Level that have 
been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers. The new two-year courses will begin in September 2023, with the first cohort of students studying at the academy during their first year, and moving to the new facility when it opens in 2024. 

Three men standing on the harbour in the Port of Blyth by the river mouth.


Energy Central Learning Hub Project Overview

Energy Central Institute

A new higher-level skills and innovation facility, developing energy sector expertise at degree and PhD levels. Creating a focal point for collaboration between energy businesses, OREC, and North East universities, it will develop higher-level skills and technological innovations to keep Blyth at the forefront of energy sector growth. This new facility is expected to generate significant public benefits by enhancing knowledge and skills in the growing energy sector, increasing footfall and spending, boosting civic pride, and stimulating the town’s regeneration and night-time economy.

Funded by the UK Government logo
The Energy Central Institute will be located on the site of the former Keel Row Shopping Centre & Car Park. Designs have been developed throughout 2024 with a Planning Application expected to be submitted in Winter 2024/25. Works are expected to commence in Summer 2025 with completion of works expected to be in early 2027.

CGI impression of the external Energy central institutional


Artists impression of the Energy Central Institute which were presented to residents, businesses and stakeholders in November 2024 - External Appearance, Façade Study Option A - Terracotta beige panels with red blend brickwork

Energy Central Campus Phase 2: Energy Central Institute Proposals

Keel Row Site Demolition Update

Following planning approval, Thompsons of Prudhoe have now been appointed as the Principal Contractor to undertake the demolition of the former Keel Row Shopping Centre in Blyth Town Centre. This will commence w/c Monday 30th September 2024 with local neighbouring businesses being updated this week prior to the works commencing.

  • Town Centre open as usual - All town centre businesses in the area are accessible throughout the works.  The initial site set up will be to establish a secure hoarding boundary and ensure the site is safe and manageable to allow for a phased demolition including gradual strip out of the building, establishment of scaffolding and mechanical demolition.  A range of measures will be used to reduce dust, noise and vibration to a minimum with working hours planned carefully to minimise impact on the town centre and neighbours. 

  • Keel Row Car Park open as usual - Keel Row Car Park will remain open throughout the demolition process. A small section of the southern end of the car park will be fenced off behind new hoardings to allow for the safe demolition of the building.  Accessible parking bays are being relocated on site close to the town centre shops and bus station. 

  • Public Toilets open as usual - The public toilets adjacent to the Mecca Bingo and Bus Station are open as usual and unaffected by the demolition works. 

  • Future use of the site - Once the demolition is completed in Winter 2024/25 this will create a new development site in the town centre alongside the revitalised Market Place and new Market Pavilion ready for future investment.  
    - Plans include the Energy Central Institute, a new higher education facility, specialising in clean energy. 
    - Further details on the plans for the site are currently being developed as a masterplan which will be subject to further engagement and consultation later this year prior to the proposed development of the site which is set to get underway in 2025. 
    - The works are part of the Energising Blyth Programme to grow, renew and connect the town delivered by the County Council and funded by UK Government, Northumberland County Council and the North East Combined Authority.   

Works will include the demolition of the former Keel Row Shopping Centre. On completion, timber hoarding will remain in place around the site until redevelopment of the site commences in 2025. The hoarding will include graphics with design, manufacture and installation currently being progressed. 
Works are expected to commence from week commencing 30th September 2024 and demolition is expected to be complete within 3-4 months. 

All works will be undertaken with due care and control to ensure the safety of the site personnel, the public and all other stakeholders and to minimise disruption.  

  • The boundary of the work site will be secured and mitigation will be in place to reduce dust, noise and vibration to a minimum.  

  • Initial works will include site mobilisation works and an internal soft strip. Protective scaffold will be required prior to mechanical demolition (see further details below on footway closures). 

  • Site working hours will typically be Monday to Friday between 8.00-17.00. No works are anticipated on weekends or public bank holidays. 

  • Whilst waste skip vehicles and tippers will need to visit site on a frequent basis as works progress, vehicle trips will be made during the hours of 10.00-15.00 in order to avoid peak times. 

  • The demolition contractor will keep local businesses informed regularly and will provide a contact number should there be a need to raise any concerns. 

  • Keel Row Car Park continues to be open and accessible and will be throughout the demolition process.   

  • Some minor amendments are being made to allow for the establishment of hoardings around the demolition site and accessible parking is being relocated on site close to the town centre shops and bus station.   

  • Electric Vehicle charging will still be accessible. 

  • Demolition vehicles will access the site from the North via Keel Row Car Park via the B1329. 

  • A small section of Keel Row car park has been provided for the demolition contractor to use and will be controlled as both a site access point and site compound.  

  • A banksman whose role is to guide large vehicles into the site will meet site traffic at the northern entrance to the site and warning signage will be in place at the entrance to the car park notifying the public of construction traffic. 
     

    A map of a city Description automatically generated

The public toilets located to the East side of the car park are open and are unaffected by the demolition works. There are also public toilets available at Market Place. 
Whilst there may be some disruption to the Service Yard at times during the works, there is a commitment to provide access to the relevant building owners and tenants located on Regent Street. Owners/tenants will be contacted directly.

There are no road closures required. However, there are still some road closures on Bridge Street which are required for the Bridge Street Improvements works to be carried out. 

  • The footway on the North side of Bridge Street is currently closed and will remain closed whilst demolition works are carried out. A diversion is currently in place.  

  • The footway on the West side of Union Street (between Rink Street and Bridge Street) will be required in order to carry out demolition works safely.  

  • Pedestrian access between Keel Row Car Park and the Bus Station will remain open. 

  • A protective scaffold will be in place to enable safe demolition with daily inspections and maintenance where required. 
     

All works will be contained within the site boundary which will be secured using hoarding with gated access. During working hours access will be managed by a Banksman who will permit access to the site. Out of hours security will be present on site outside of normal working hours. 
Plans include Energy Central Institute, a new higher education facility, specialising in clean energy adding to the new Energy Central Learning Hub on the Quayside. Alongside this, there are plans for a hotel and restaurant. Prior to development on the Keel Row site, the brand new Market Pavilion, a multi-use Cultural Venue is being delivered on the Market Place housing a three-screen cinema operated by Jam Jar, creative facilities and event space as well as bar/lounge offering.  Improvements are being delivered to Bridge Street following on from the recently completed Bowes Street Improvement scheme which overall are making the town centre more welcoming, safe, attractive and accessible. 
A Planning Application for the Energy Central Institute is expected to be submitted later this year, further engagement with residents and stakeholders will take place soon. Construction is expected to start in 2025 with opening planned in 2027. 

Should you need to contact Thompsons of Prudhoe during the demolition phase you can do so on the details below: 

Site Manager – Mark Blanden, 07919 491697, markblanden@thompsonsofprudhoe.com 

Head Office – 01661 832422 and reference 7896D 

For all enquiries in relation to the Energising Blyth Programme, please contact energisingblyth@northumberland.org.uk 

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