Planning permission for the development will be approved by the council in August 2024 and executives will be asked next week to approve proposals to sign a £9.6m deal with developer Willmott Dixon.
According to a council spokesperson, the hub will have “classroom-based training, engineering workshops and space for a marine biology laboratory, covering areas ranging from marine biology to emerging industries such as offshore wind power. “We will provide training and employment opportunities.”
Office space for “ocean-based start-ups” and other maritime industries is also planned.
Councilor Mark Crane, North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Member for Open Enterprise, said: “We have long recognized the need to ensure diverse and sustainable employment opportunities for all communities, particularly those on the coast. I've been doing it.
“Plans for the Whitby Maritime Hub provide us with a significant opportunity to achieve just that, opening the door to new economic growth and providing first-class training and facilities for a range of sectors. , supporting the creation of the next generation of skilled apprentices and professionals in the maritime industry.
“The proposal to enter into a contract to begin development work will deliver the best value to taxpayers, while ensuring that the opportunity to create what is expected to be a landmark development for the North is taken advantage of by executive members. The Yorkshire coast will be carefully considered. ”
Barry Harland, Chairman of Whitby City Council, said: “This is a major development for Whitby and we are confident that not only will it attract some of Whitby's best talent, but the opportunities it will bring will benefit the local community. We want to make it feel like that too,” he added. Maritime Department. ”
Funding for the project will come from the £17.1 million awarded to Whitby as part of the Government's Town Deal programme.
A total of £37.3 million was awarded to both Whitby and Scarborough players in 2021 under the programme.
If plans are approved by authorities, construction on the Whitby Maritime Hub will begin early this year, with development expected to begin in spring 2026.
A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said a public consultation held in early 2024 received 256 responses, with 69 per cent supporting the project.
The report, which will be considered by the executive, initially suggests North Yorkshire Council could remain as the building's operator, with the possibility of setting up a community interest company to run the facility.
