A pioneering Environment Agency partnership project has been
successful in securing funding to boost ambitions for the new
Teesworks Freeport to become
the first UK Net Zero Carbon industrial cluster.
Environmental regulators will work in partnership with operators
and developers in the Tees Valley to co-design systems that
support the sustainable economic growth in the new Freeport.
The Teesworks Greener Freeport project has been made possible by
a £175,000 grant from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund launched by
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(BEIS).
It will investigate how permitting can be used as a positive tool
to reduce emissions to air and water as part of the overall
ambition to facilitate the development of the first UK Net Zero
Carbon industrial cluster.
Project is ‘unique opportunity’
Environment Agency Project Lead Eddie Halstead is working closely
with Natural England on the project. He said:
The Tees estuary has a complex ecosystem that hosts the largest
UK Freeport as well as being a highly protected environment.
This project presents a unique opportunity to test the interface
of two key pillars of the post EU exit policy – the levelling up
agenda and the forthcoming environmental bill.
It will achieve mutual benefit for low carbon business and
operators and environmental regulators, and produce learning that
can be replicated for emerging Freeports across the UK.
Tees Valley Mayor added:
This project is fantastic news that will boost our Freeport’s
clean energy credentials and support our ambitions to become the
UK’s clean energy and renewables powerhouse.
It means that we’re not only leading the way in getting the UK to
net zero by 2050 with projects such as Net Zero Teesside, but
also doing it the right way.
This great project will also help inform best practice for other
emerging Freeports, once again putting our region at the
forefront of innovation and ahead of the game in Freeport
development.
£3.7m Regulators’ Pioneer Fund
The £3.7million Regulators’ Pioneer Fund enables UK regulators
and local authorities to help create a UK regulatory environment
that unleashes innovation and makes the UK the best place to
start and grow a business. In all 21 projects received money from
the fund.
It is hoped that it will incentivise companies toward greener
manufacturing processes and business operations helping to tackle
climate change.
The Regulators’ Pioneer Fund is part of wider government work on
regulation. This includes the recent Reforming the Framework for
Better Regulation consultation, and the Better Regulation
Committee, chaired by the Chancellor, which is driving an
ambitious reform agenda to ensure the UK’s regulatory framework
is fit for purpose and delivers the Government’s strategic
objectives in its 25 Year Environment Plan.
