b.grn Group Ltd, a company developing a portfolio of waste-to-fuel plants across the UK, is pleased to note today’s news from the UK and Welsh Governments that agreement has been reached to establish a new Freeport under a joint assessment of bids from interested locations.
Following b.grn’s Richard Parris’ meeting with Virginia Crosbie, Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn, the Company welcomes the announcement that £26.0 million in UK Government funding will be made available to back a Welsh Freeport. b.grn has supported Ms. Crosbie’s campaign for this status and wishes her and her team success in the forthcoming bidding process.
Freeport status is important for the community and economy. b.grn’s own plans, previously announced as Project Panad, for a waste-to-fuel operation on Anglesey will generate considerable economic and social value. The Company believes that this is consistent with the underlying principles of job creation and environmental impact espoused by both Governments in the announcement today.
Consistent with the Freeport news, b.grn today announces that its has retained Lambert Hampton Smith in Cardiff (“LHS”) to advise the Company on its planned purchase of the Anglesey site. LHS will support the Company in its engagement with the Administrators of the Holyhead site, reinforcing b.grn’s economic and social proposals for the site’s redevelopment.
Richard Parris of b.grn, said:
“Anglesey is an ideal site for b.grn’s operations. It has a skilled local workforce, sufficient space for the scale of operation we require, and the support of its hard-working elected representative. b.grn welcomes the Governments’ decision to fund a Welsh Freeport and congratulates Ms. Crosbie and her team on its campaign to secure this progress. Currently, our decision to locate operations in the Holyhead area is conditional on Freeport status being granted to the area. This levels the playing field with our alternative location in Humberside. The company looks forward to working further with Ms. Crosbie and now, LHS to secure access to this important site.”
Virginia Crosbie, Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn, commented:
“This is a big day for Anglesey, and I will do all I can to ensure that a brilliant bid is put forward to grant Freeport status to Holyhead. Companies like b.grn want to invest in our Island but need certainty over that investment and the incentives to do so. A Freeport here will do just that, and I will be working hard across the board with business, with authorities, and with organisations in North Wales to make the bid a success.”
