Why Delivery Matters: The Investment Case for Hull and East Yorkshire 

By Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Portfolio Holder for Investment at Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. 

For the UK to be serious about unlocking its next phase of economic growth, it needs to look beyond traditional urban centres. 

The East Riding of Yorkshire contains enormous potential with the scale, connectivity, and the ability to deliver at pace, that are vital for delivering growth and prosperity. 

Set between major national corridors and anchored by the Humber Freeport, we are one of the largest and most diverse local authority areas in the country. But more importantly, we are one of the most investable. 

We have the fundamentals necessary for investors. This includes 500 hectares of employment land ready for development and direct access to the M62 and national logistics networks 

We also have Goole, the UK’s furthest inland port, emerging as a major logistics and manufacturing hub, and a central role within the Humber Freeport, driving trade and green investment. 

This is both about long-term aspiration but crucially also about sites, infrastructure and opportunities that are ready for investment today.  

We are leading the transition to a green and digital economy, with significant renewable energy infrastructure. This supports hydrogen and low-carbon energy development, enables green powered data infrastructure and creates an ecosystem where clean energy meets digital growth. 

The East Riding’s key strength is the breadth of opportunity within a single place. 

This includes logistics and manufacturing around Goole, coastal regeneration and visitor economy opportunities around Bridlington. There is also Market town investment supporting high quality housing and digital life, and rural innovation including agri-tech and sustainable food production. 

Underpinning this is a clear strategy to bring forward development, including the activation of employment land and new local plans to provide certainty for investors. 

We recognise that successful places require active engagement from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to enable and accelerate growth. 

Through a major transformation programme, we are becoming leaner and more commercially focused, using data and AI to improve decision-making, and building a council that matches the expectations for modern investors. This includes creating new partnership models, including joint ventures and delivery vehicles. 

In summary, the East Riding is the ideal location for investment, as we have a competitive cost base with land availability at scale 

We are a council committed to delivery and partnership and have policy alignment with national priorities. The East Riding is a place that can move quickly and grow sustainably and the time to invest is now. 

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We are actively seeking partners who want to be part of shaping a region with national significance. 

Whether your focus is energy, logistics, housing, digital infrastructure or regeneration, the East Riding offers real opportunities, backed by a clear plan. 

Now is the time to look differently at where growth happens. 

Now is the time to look to the East Riding. 

The East Riding Opportunity: Where the UK’s Next Decade of Growth Will Be Delivered 

By Paul Bellotti, East Riding of Yorkshire Council Chief Executive 

Ambition for growth is widespread across the UK, with a deeply competitive environment for investment and job creation. However, increasingly the deciding factor for investors is delivery. 

That is where Hull and East Yorkshire stands apart. 

Hull and East Yorkshire has a consistent track record of translating strategy into action, from securing Humber Freeport status to establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority. The region has created the foundations for long-term investable growth, that is underpinned by clear governance, strong partnerships and a commitment to effective delivery. 

At the heart of the commitment to delivery is the prospect of certainty. 

Investors today need confidence as well as opportunity.  They need confidence that decisions will be made quickly, that infrastructure will support growth, and that local leadership is aligned behind a clear economic vision. Hull and East Yorkshire’s £400 million devolved investment programme and a long-term plan to 2045, offers that clear framework. 

This framework has been built upon decades of industry, trade and innovation. The Humber is the UK’s busiest trading estuary, with a £16 billion economy, including key manufacturing hubs that contribute over 20% of GVA, more than double the national average. 

These strengths align with the future of the UK economy. 

The region is already a national leader in clean energy, including offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. It is home to advanced manufacturing across sectors such as rail, chemicals and med-tech. Its ports and logistics infrastructure provide direct access to European and global markets, while its agri-food sector is driving innovation in sustainable food production. 

This alignment means that investment in Hull and East Yorkshire is strategic and built upon strong economic foundations. 

Crucially, Hull and East Yorkshire provide a coordinated pipeline of investment opportunities that can unlock growth across the whole region, at scale. 

This includes major regeneration schemes such as Albion Square and East Bank, strategic employment sites like the Western Docklands, and critical infrastructure improvements including the Leeds–Goole–Hull rail enhancement. There are also nationally significant initiatives such as the Flood Resilience Centre, as well as coastal regeneration projects to strengthen the region’s visitor economy. 

Together, these projects form a compelling, place-based investment proposition that combines immediate opportunity with long-term value. 

Since 2020, the region has secured over £1 billion in inward investment, demonstrating both market confidence and the ability to deliver at scale. 

However, Hull and East Yorkshire has greater ambitions, to deliver growth that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient. This means ensuring that investment supports economic expansion as well as stronger communities with better infrastructure and improved quality of life. This is reflected in the region’s growing visitor economy, already worth over £800 million annually, with a clear trajectory to exceed £1 billion by 2028. 

For investors, this demonstrates the region’s long-term viability. It shows that Hull and the East Riding are a business-friendly environment that can attract talent, scale operations and long-term success. 

Ultimately, Hull and East Yorkshire offer something increasingly valuable in today’s investment landscape – a region that knows where it is going, and how to get there. 

With strong fundamentals, a clear strategic direction and a proven ability to deliver, it is a place where ambition is matched by action – and where investment can move forward with confidence.