JDR High-Voltage UK Cable Plant Approved in Northumberland
In 2022,ย JDR Cable Systemsย moved itsย JDR high-voltage UK cable plantย another step forward when councilors on the Strategic Planning Committee ofย Northumberland County Council (NCC)ย approved the project. This decision clears a key hurdle for a state-of-the-art subsea cable facility that will support offshore wind and other renewable projects.
Local Support for the JDR High-Voltage UK Cable Plant
NCC Deputy Council Leader Richard Wearmouth confirmed the councilโs full support for the development. He said the county feels โabsolutely delightedโ to welcome one of the most advanced subsea cable manufacturing facilities in the world. The plant will focus on renewable energy products and services, so it directly supports Northumberlandโs carbon-neutral ambitions.
JDR plans to start construction this year and aims to open the facility in 2024. The project will create up to 207 high-quality local jobs when complete. It will also safeguard about 270 existing roles at JDRโs current UK manufacturing sites.
Investment, Funding, and Job Growth
Theย JDR high-voltage UK cable plantย represents an initial investment of around ยฃ130 million. Part of this funding will come from a grant through theย BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support (OWMIS)ย scheme. JDR andย TFKย intend to secure the remaining capital with backing from financial institutions and UK Export Finance.
This new plant forms the first stage of JDRโs broader plan to expand its product portfolio for the global renewable energy market. The site will add high-voltage export cables and long-length array cables to JDRโs existing capabilities. In later phases, more than 400 people could work at the location, with production complementing JDRโs facilities inย Hartlepoolย andย Littleport.
JDR High-Voltage UK Cable Plant Adds Unique Capabilities
When complete, the Northumberland facility will feature a new catenary continuous vulcanization (CCV) line. With this equipment, JDR will operate the only UK site capable of full start-to-finish manufacturing of high-voltage subsea cables for offshore wind farms. This unique capability will help developers reduce supply risk, shorten lead times, and source more equipment domestically.
The plant will sit on a 16-hectare site at the former coal-firedย Blyth power stationย in Cambois in northeast England. The redevelopment highlights the regionโs shift from fossil fuels to clean energy infrastructure. Key features will include a 47.5 m vertical laying-up machine tower, a 45 m CCV tower, and extensive cable testing and storage facilities. JDR expects to start construction in the third quarter of this year and finish in early 2024.
