More multi-million pound investment is coming to the county after JDR Cable Systems (JDR), the global subsea cable and umbilical supplier and servicer announced its plans to open a new state-of-the-art subsea cable manufacturing facility in Cambois. 
 

The news has been welcomed by Northumberland County Council, Advance Northumberland and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership which have worked tirelessly to support the project. 
 

JDR has confirmed its intention to go ahead with the project, subject to final agreements, with construction expected to begin in 2022 ahead of a 2024 opening, creating 170 high-quality local jobs on completion and safeguarding 270 jobs at JDR’s existing facilities. The initial project investment is estimated at £130m, which will be part funded by a grant from the BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support (OWMIS) scheme. JDR and TFK plans to raise the remaining funding with support expected from financial institutions and UK Export Finance.  
 

The new facility is the first stage of JDR’s plans to expand its product portfolio to support the growing global renewable energy market, adding high voltage export and long length array cables to its existing capacity and product capabilities. Further stages of the development could result in over 400 staff working at the site, with supplied products complementing JDR’s existing capacity provided by the company’s Hartlepool and Littleport UK manufacturing centers.  
 

Tomasz Nowak, Chief Executive Officer at JDR, said: “As the energy transition gathers pace and the UK’s offshore wind sector continues to thrive, turbines are growing taller and farther from shore, calling for higher voltage subsea cables. We’re delighted to build on our legacy as a leading provider of subsea cables to the offshore energy sector by investing in this new facility. We’re also delighted to continue our investment in the North East of England, and in bringing new jobs to Cambois, Blyth and Northumberland. Our proposed facility is strategically located to capitalise on the rapidly growing and largest offshore renewable energy market in Europe.” 
 

Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “This latest investment in Northumberland is great news and another example of the area’s ever-growing reputation as a centre for renewable energy. 
 

“With another 170 high quality local jobs in the pipeline we will look forward to working with the company to make this another county success story.” 
 

Tony Quinn, Chair of Energi Coast – the North East England’s Offshore Wind Supply Chain Cluster, adds: “We’re delighted that JDR has selected Cambois, near Blyth, for such a strategically important investment. It will make a significant contribution toward the development of an offshore wind industrial cluster in the North East, strengthening an already well established supply chain and creating hundreds of high value jobs.” 
 

Councillor Jeff Watson, Chair of Advance Northumberland, said: “We’ve been working tirelessly to support this facility which will be another major employer in south-east Northumberland – once the site of much heavy industry. 
 

“We’re delighted JDR are able to make this announcement and will continue to support them as the scheme moves forward.” 
 

As the UK prepares to host COP26 in November, the project is an example of the country’s commitment to its net-zero vision. At the same time, the facility fits with the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda in the North East of England, as well as its ‘Build Back Better’ ambition in the wake of COVID-19, helping to deliver on a number of strategic national priorities.  
 

The 69,000 sqm facility will occupy the site of the former coal-fired power station, continuing Northumberland’s emergence as a hub for renewable energy engineering and industry.  
 

Helen Golightly, Chief Executive at the North East LEP, which oversees the region’s 21 Enterprise Zones, said: “It’s excellent news that JDR Cable Systems has chosen the NEP1 Enterprise Zone site as the location for its new facility. Developing manufacturing capacity and supporting the creation of jobs in the offshore and subsea sector in the region is a strategic priority for the North East LEP. 
 

“As such, we have invested over £21m to support Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council in their efforts to remediate the site, including £2.25m from the Government’s Getting Building Fund and £4.4m from the Local Growth Fund.  
 

“This investment has led to the creation of one of the UK’s leading deep-water offshore energy bases – attracting investors, securing high quality new jobs and reinforcing the region’s reputation as a hub for renewable energy.”