Socioeconomic Benefits

The Portland ERF site will result in a £150m private sector investment into Portland. The development will provide around 300 direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs during construction and around 35 full time permanent direct and 60 indirect jobs during operations.

£50m is anticipated to be spent locally to develop a site within Portland Port that has been vacant for over ten years.

The location is within a key employment site identified in the local plan and is identified in the neighbourhood plan as a vital employment zone.

Powerfuel has agreed to provide two apprenticeship starts each year for Dorset residents and also provide traineeships to young people resident on Portland or students at Weymouth College.

Portland Port and its tenants have expressed an interest in receiving direct supply of low carbon power (and potentially heat) from the Portland ERF which would result in a low cost of energy for these businesses due to the avoidance of electricity grid costs.

A climate fund of £100,000 per annum will be established to be used to alleviate local fuel poverty, as directed by a committee of local representatives, The Portland ERF will result in significant annual fiscal benefits to Dorset Council through the payment of business rates expected to be around £600,000 per annum.

Read Powerfuel Portland's ERF Proposal Summary document here.