Building work has started on the £24million Hayle Marine Renewables Business Park

The Devon & Cornwall division of Midas Construction has won the contract to build the business park, which is part of an investment by Cornwall Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Government to regenerate Hayle Harbour.

Hayle is already home to Wave Hub Ltd and the new business park is designed to accommodate companies in the marine energy sector and is being built on the site of a formal coal-fired power station at North Quay in Hayle now owned by Cornwall Council.

It will offer 2,500 sq metres of managed workspace including 900 m2 of modern office accommodation over two floors with Superfast fibre broadband and seven light  industrial units varying in size from 200 to 250 m2.  It is expected to open in summer 2015 and "create 120 jobs".

Representatives from Cornwall Council, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), marine energy industry and Midas Construction have officially marked the start of work on site.

John Pollard, councillor for Hayle North and leader of Cornwall Council said: “This new business park will cement Cornwall’s position at the forefront of the development of marine energy, and as the local councillor I am proud to see Hayle – which is already home to Wave Hub - playing such an important part in this fast-growing industry.”

Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said: “The marine renewables market has huge potential and the business park further enhances our unique offer to this growing global industry, thanks to ERDF investment.  The sector is a priority for the LEP because of its ability to create high value jobs and is something we are committed to further developing through the next European programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

John Coombe, Cornwall Councillor for Hayle South said “Cornwall is the natural home to marine renewables and the development of this site will help further strengthen our ability to deliver cutting edge technology in the sector. The Marine Renewables Park will further secure Hayle’s place in Cornwall’s development of marine energy and most importantly provide employment.”.

Hayle MRBP is being developed as part of a collaborate package of investment in Hayle Harbour and North Quay, with £11.6million of funding from the ERDF, an £8million investment by Cornwall Council, and £4.25million from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The project is being managed by the Cornwall Development Company, the economic development company of Cornwall Council.