Willmott Dixon in line for Whitby Maritime Hub
Planning permission for the development was approved by North Yorkshire Council in August last year and the developer is now set to be approved for the £9.6m project.
If approved, construction will start early this year with the development opening in the spring of 2026.
Located on Endeavour Wharf, the aim of the hub will be to place Whitby at the forefront of the maritime and offshore renewable energy sectors, as well as boosting local job opportunities.
The council will reach a decision on whether to go ahead with Willmott’s proposals next week.
As well as developing technical skills for the maritime sector, the hub would provide accommodation for marine businesses and service providers.
The hub has been designed to blend in with the existing views of the town and will have space for classroom-based training, engineering workshops, and marine biology laboratories, and are intended to be occupied by local, regional, and national businesses.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include economic growth and harbours, said: “We have long recognised the need to ensure that there is a diverse and sustainable range of job opportunities for all our communities, and especially those on the coast.
“The plans for the Whitby Maritime Hub present us with a significant chance to achieve just that, opening the door to new economic growth and helping to create the next generation of skilled apprentices and professions by providing first-class training and facilities for a range of maritime industries.
“The proposals to enter into a contract to start work on the development will be considered carefully by executive members to ensure that we provide the best value for taxpayers while also capitalising on the opportunity to create what we hope will be a landmark development on the North Yorkshire coast.”
The funding for the project is set to come from the £17.1m given to Whitby as part of the Government’s Town Deals programme.
