Goole Housing Growth Accelerates as £200m Development Reaches 300th Sale

Goole’s transformation continues to gather pace as The Greenways, a £200 million residential development by Beal Homes, reaches a key milestone of 300 homes sold.

The achievement highlights Goole’s position as one of East Yorkshire’s fastest-growing communities and reflects the town’s growing appeal for both local residents and commuters. Since its launch five years ago, The Greenways has become a central feature in Goole’s regeneration, providing high-quality new homes that are helping to meet demand created by major investment in the town.

The Greenways forms part of more than £200 million of private investment in Goole and will ultimately deliver over 800 homes. The latest phase, now underway, introduces a wider range of house types to meet the needs of families, first-time buyers, and downsizers.

The success of the development reinforces confidence in Goole’s long-term growth, underpinned by significant projects such as Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village and associated supply-chain expansion. The combination of new homes, employment opportunities, and infrastructure improvements continues to drive population growth and economic activity across the area.

With excellent transport links via the M62 to Leeds, York, Doncaster, and Hull, Goole is increasingly seen as a desirable location for people seeking quality homes within reach of key employment centres.

Find out more about investment and development opportunities in Goole and across East Yorkshire – https://investeastyorkshire.co.uk/land-opportunities/

Finbarr Dowling appointed as Chair of Humber Freeport

Finbarr Dowling, the renowned Siemens executive behind some of the Humber region’s most transformative investments, has been appointed as the new Chair of Humber Freeport. He will formally take up the role in October 2025, following his retirement from Siemens.

Mr Dowling’s appointment follows a competitive recruitment process led by members of the Humber Freeport Board and regional stakeholders. The board unanimously supported his selection, recognising his extensive track record in delivering high-value inward investment and driving regional economic growth.

Over the past 12 years, Mr Dowling has played a pivotal role in spearheading more than £1 billion of Siemens investment in the Humber region. These landmark developments include:

• The Siemens Gamesa offshore wind facility in Hull, developed in partnership with Associated British Ports, which established the Humber as a global leader in offshore wind manufacturing and created over 1,000 jobs.
• The Goole Rail Village, an advanced rail manufacturing hub for Siemens Mobility, currently producing new Tube trains for London and building out facilities for logistics, components, and service. The Goole investment is set to create 1,000 direct jobs and 1,700 supply chain opportunities.

Professor Neal Juster, Acting Chair of Humber Freeport, praised the appointment, saying:

“Finbarr brings exceptional experience, credibility and connections to the role, alongside an unmatched understanding of how to translate regional potential into real-world results. His passion for the Humber is evident, and we are confident he will lead the next phase of the Freeport’s development with energy and purpose.”

Mr Dowling echoed this enthusiasm:

“I’m honoured to be appointed as Chair of Humber Freeport. Having dedicated much of the last decade to delivering investment here, I know just how much this region has to offer. Freeport status opens up even more opportunities to secure high-value investment, foster innovation, and support job creation.”

He also highlighted the evolving economic and political landscape—including the Government’s renewed backing for Freeports and the development of Mayoral Combined Authorities—as key drivers for regional growth.

Humber Freeport is one of 12 designated UK Freeports, offering businesses a powerful mix of tax, planning, customs, and innovation incentives. Its tax sites in Hull, Goole and Immingham, and a customs site in Grimsby, have already attracted more than £1.2bn in pledged investment.

As Chair, Mr Dowling will build on the Freeport’s mission to attract even greater investment, working closely with local authorities, businesses, government, and education providers. He also brings a strong commitment to social value and community engagement, having helped found Hull’s employer-led Ron Dearing UTC.

Professor Juster will remain Acting Chair until October, continuing the leadership he has provided since Simon Bird stepped down earlier this year.

For more information, visit www.humberfreeport.org

Siemens Mobility Powers Ahead with Solar Energy at Goole Rail Village

Siemens Mobility has taken a major step towards its net zero ambitions at Goole Rail Village, switching on 1,700 solar panels that will significantly reduce the site’s carbon footprint. The panels, now fully operational, generate up to 1MW of clean energy, equivalent to the power needed for more than 150 homes.

This investment is part of Siemens Mobility’s £240 million commitment to Goole, reinforcing the town’s position as a leading centre for rail innovation and manufacturing in the UK. The Goole Rail Village, designed as a low-carbon site, is home to manufacturing, components, logistics, innovation, and office facilities, making it a key contributor to the region’s economic growth.

The solar panels are just one element of a broader sustainability strategy at Goole Rail Village. Siemens Mobility has also invested £2 million in air source heat pumps to heat production facilities, cutting carbon emissions by 980 tonnes annually—an 88% reduction. Additionally, the company is electrifying its vehicle fleet, rolling out up to 70 EV chargers, and encouraging sustainable travel through initiatives like the Goole + Howden Hopper bus service.

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Mobility’s Director of Localisation, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability:

“Our vision from the outset was for the Goole Rail Village to be net zero in operations by 2030. With green energy generation, clean heating, and sustainable transport policies, we’re ensuring every aspect of the site minimizes its carbon impact. This is not just about Siemens Mobility—it’s about supporting the wider rail industry in its journey towards decarbonisation.”

Beyond its environmental impact, Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village is a major boost to the local economy, bringing up to 1,000 new jobs and creating 1,700 supply chain opportunities. The site is already assembling the new Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London (TfL), set to enter service later this year. The company also plans to build all future mainline trains for the UK at Goole, including battery bi-mode trains, which could save Britain’s railways £3.5 billion and 12 million tonnes of CO2 over 35 years.

David Harris, Siemens Mobility’s Construction Project Manager, highlighted the long-term vision:

“We’ve integrated sustainability into every phase of this project, from construction to operation. Now that the facility is up and running, we’re seeing the full benefits of investing in green infrastructure from day one.”

With the addition of a £40 million Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, Siemens Mobility’s total investment in Goole is set to reach £240 million, further cementing the town’s role as a key hub for rail manufacturing and innovation.

As Siemens Mobility continues its journey towards net zero, Goole Rail Village stands as a shining example of sustainable rail technology and economic investment. This project not only strengthens East Yorkshire’s status as a leader in rail innovation but also aligns with the UK’s broader goals for a low-carbon transport future.

For more information on Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, visit www.siemens.co.uk/goole.

Eight years of work comes to fruition for Invest East Yorkshire

Siemens Mobility’s new £200 million Goole factory will start manufacturing trains for the UK market from April 2024, creating thousands of new jobs, both directly and across the wider supply chain.

For the Invest East Yorkshire team, which first began liaising with Siemens Mobility about the possibility of its new factory coming to Goole back in 2016, it’s a major milestone that represents the culmination of eight years of work. 

The team’s relationship with Siemens Mobility first began when the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (or UK Trade and Investment as it was then known) made it aware of the company’s nationwide search for a suitable location for its new train manufacturing site. 

Stephen Silvester, Inward Investment and Infrastructure Manager for Invest East Yorkshire, recalls: “Siemens were looking for a 50-acre plus site, with direct rail connection and room for expansion, as well as good workforce availability and local support. The enquiry went out via the usual Government channels to all local enterprise partnerships and devolved administrations across the country so that local authorities and other relevant stakeholders could respond with suggestions about suitable sites.” 

After collating the responses, Siemens Mobility drew up a shortlist of potential sites, two of which were in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

Stephen and his colleagues then held a series of meetings and discussions with senior staff at Siemens Mobility to answer any questions they had and promote the East Riding of Yorkshire as the ideal location for their investment. 

The Invest East Yorkshire team offered a compelling and wide-ranging package of support, which convinced Siemens that Goole was the best location for their future plans. At the very core of the proposition was a fully serviced site on the Goole 36 Enterprise Zone, which the team had worked with land owner Homes England to open up for investment. This involved the development of the £13 million Tom Pudding Way link road, which was supported by an £8.3 million European Regional Development Fund grant and delivered in partnership with Homes England. 

Stephen explained: “We had a big hand in the selection of Goole for the manufacturing site, with Siemens considering places around the UK. After we’d presented them with a bespoke package of support, covering everything from planning guidance and labour market development to supply chain linkages and the opportunity to scale up their initial investment, the decision was made. Goole it was!” 

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Mobility’s Director of Localisation, explained the key role that the Invest East Yorkshire team played in bringing the company to Goole:

“We had also worked with the Invest East Yorkshire team in relation to our investment in offshore wind in the area, so had confidence the team could deliver what we needed.” 

Mid-way through 2017, Goole was officially announced as the preferred location for Siemens Mobility’s new factory and the project moved into the next phase of development, with the Invest East Yorkshire team providing support every step of the way to achieve its goal of bringing Siemens Mobility to the Goole 36 site. Planning permission for the factory was approved in 2019 and this helped Siemens Mobility to secure a £1.5 billion contract to manufacture new underground trains for Transport for London.  

Since then, the £9 million development of the RaisE (Rail Accelerator & Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise) Business Centre close to the new factory site has supported supply chain development and provided Siemens Mobility with office accommodation in close proximity to the factory.  

When it becomes fully operational, the new manufacturing site will create 700 new jobs, as well as a further 1,700 in the wider supply chain. Meanwhile, Siemens Mobility continues to invest in Goole, with a new components factory and logistics operation. It also has plans in the pipeline to expand its components business and, potentially, add a test track. These additional investments will create several hundred more new jobs. 

Siemens Mobility

It’s all go for Goole in 2022 and beyond, it would seem, with Siemens Mobility heading to the port town to invest an incredible £200 million in a state-of-the-art factory that will manufacture and commission trains – and give the East Riding of Yorkshire economy a very significant boost indeed.

The facility is due to open in 2023, forming part of a rail village that will also feature a dedicated section of the site designed to support local biodiversity and wildlife, with a habitat enhancement area.

Work in this regard will include the thinning of overdense woodland and scrub areas, which should hopefully encourage ground flora diversity. In addition, an open water wetland area is going to be developed, and bird and bat nesting boxes are going to be set up.

The factory will start making tube trains for London Underground’s Piccadilly Line. In November 2018, Transport for London signed a £1.5bn contract with Siemens Mobility to design and build 94 new generation tube trains to replace the existing 1970s fleet on the line… and, all being well, work will soon get going apace!

Finbarr Dowling, director of localisation, explained just how the team here at Invest East Yorkshire helped the company see its plans for Goole come to fruition. He said:

“We had also worked with the Invest East Yorkshire team in relation to our investment in offshore wind in the area so had confidence the team could deliver what we needed”.

We actually had a big hand in the selection of Goole for the site, with Siemens considering various places around the UK. But after we presented them with a bespoke package of support, covering planning guidance, labour market development, supply chain linkages and the opportunity to scale up their initial investment, the decision was made… Goole it was to be!

If you’d like to find out more about how Invest East Yorkshire can help you develop your business in the future, get in touch with us today.