LS Eco Advanced Cables (LSEAC), a joint venture between Global InterConnection Group (GIG) and a subsidiary of LS Group, a South Korean cable manufacturer, has launched a five-week public consultation on plans for a £923 million subsea and onshore cable facility at the Port of Tyne in the UK. The consultation will run from May 14 to June 18, inviting feedback from local communities, businesses, and organizations before the final planning application is submitted to South Tyneside Council later this year.

The proposed project aims to create 500 direct jobs and an additional 1,000 jobs in the supply chain. It will be located at Tyne Dock and include several buildings, such as a manufacturing space, testing facilities, and offices, surrounding a 202-meter cable sheathing tower. The overall investment is expected to reach approximately £923 million (around €1 billion).

Sangdon Lee, Director at LSEAC, emphasized the importance of the project at a time when the UK is accelerating its efforts to decarbonize its energy supply. He stated: “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.” Lee also highlighted the joint venture's commitment to ensuring the project benefits the local community, inviting input from the public to help shape its future: “We’re delighted as a joint venture to be proposing this facility for a sub-sea cable development – but we must make sure it works for the local community.”

In addition to the public consultation, two consultation events will be held in South Shields and North Shields on May 27 and 28, providing opportunities for direct engagement. The consultation is an essential step in refining the development plans before submitting the final application.

The project is expected to have a significant positive impact on the region, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness expressing enthusiasm about the long-term benefits. He stated: “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.” McGuinness also described the project as a potential “new industrial icon” for the region, comparing it to the Swan Hunter cranes that once stood by the Tyne. He added, “This is a hugely exciting project for the region and shows we are building for the future— that we are the home of green energy, and that we are open for business with the world.”

The first details of the project were introduced in September 2024, when LSEAC and the Port of Tyne signed a head of terms agreement for a lease option, marking an important step in advancing the development.