The facility, a joint venture between LS Group and the Global Interconnector Group, is expected to generate 500 direct jobs and an additional 1,000 jobs in the wider supply chain. The company has emphasized the focus on high-skilled engineering roles. Furthermore, LSEAC plans to collaborate with local schools, colleges, and universities to offer training and retraining programs, aligning with future workforce needs.
The proposed development would position the North East as a central hub in the UK's energy transition, enhancing the region’s role in clean energy manufacturing. The public consultation, running from May 14 to June 18, is designed to gather feedback from local residents, businesses, and organizations before submitting a formal planning application to South Tyneside Council later this year.
Sangdon Lee, director at LSEAC, commented: “At a time when the UK is moving ever-more-quickly to decarbonising its energy supply, now more than ever there is a huge need for the infrastructure underpinning that transition. We’re delighted to be proposing this facility – but we must make sure it works for the local community.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed excitement about the long-term investment, stating: “This long-term investment will create more than 500 high-quality jobs directly, but we know it will also mean thousands more jobs are created as the supply chain grows around our already thriving offshore sector. This is a hugely exciting project for the region and shows we are building for the future.” She also compared the facility to the iconic Swan Hunter cranes that once stood along the Tyne, symbolizing the region’s industrial legacy.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP emphasized the broader impact of the project, saying: “Our clean power mission is not just about delivering the renewable energy we need to take British homes and industry off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets, it's about delivering local growth, building in Britain, and investing in our communities. This facility would help bring 500 manufacturing jobs back to Tyneside's historic shipbuilding heartland and help to build up the supply chains we need to deliver on our Plan for Change to make Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Matt Beeton, CEO of the Port of Tyne, also highlighted the facility’s potential, noting: “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.”
The consultation provides an opportunity for local stakeholders to contribute feedback, ensuring that the project aligns with the region’s needs and aspirations.
