Esh Construction secures a significant contract to upgrade Ash Barge Dock at Northumberland Energy Park, enhancing facilities for offshore energy firms. The project, directed by Advance Northumberland, marks the start of a promising partnership and is set to be completed by 2025.
County Durham contractor Esh Construction has been awarded a £7.3 million contract to work on the Northumberland Energy Park, located near the Port of Blyth. The contract involves fitting out the widened Ash Barge Dock, part of Energy Central—a service and growth cluster for offshore energy and subsea market firms.
Directed by Advance Northumberland, the project will see the construction of a 3,000 sqm piled concrete relieving slab and the installation of 183 long tubular piles to support the reinforced concrete slab. Over 7,000 cubic meters of concrete will be used, and around 9,000 sqm of concrete paving will be laid. Existing mooring bollards will also be upgraded to increase their capacity to 100 tonnes.
Esh Construction’s Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, emphasized that this contract is the beginning of a new relationship with Advance Northumberland. Neil Jukes, head of project management at Advance Northumberland, noted that this is the final stage of construction works at the NEP1 Dock, and the facility is expected to be operational by 2025. The development will support the JDR Cables facility and contribute to the wider Energy Park.
In a related industry move, Edinburgh-based Gneiss Energy is expanding into the metals and mining sector to align with the energy transition. Founded in 2016 by Jon Fitzpatrick, the firm provides financing advice to energy investors. With the addition of Ariel Tepperman as head of metals and mining, Gneiss Energy aims to capitalize on the growing interest in critical minerals essential for electrification and decarbonization. Tepperman will head the new division from the London office.
