Questions remain over tenants for Whitby’s Maritime Hub

Whitby Maritime Hub. NYC

WHITBY’S multimillion-pound Maritime Hub is expected to open next year, but questions remain about future tenants.

The £10 million Maritime Hub, situated on Endeavour Wharf, will house workshop spaces and marine tanks, and will be used as a training space for people interested in working in the fishing industry.

Construction of the facility began in April 2025, with the main contracts of work completed in April 2026. The works have been funded through £17.1 million awarded by the Government’s Towns Fund programme.

North Yorkshire Council is “in discussions with a number of organisations”, but has yet to reveal who will occupy parts of the building, how many organisations are in talks to occupy the facility, or what proportion of the available space is expected to be occupied when the hub opens.

The authority is “speaking with a mix of potential tenants in the training, research and enterprise industries”, according to its website.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a spokesperson said they could not provide details about prospective tenancies due to commercial sensitivity.

Whitby Maritime Hub Under Construction. Courtesy NYC

Cllr Mark Crane, NYC’s executive member for open to business, whose responsibilities include economic development and regeneration, said: “The external construction of the Whitby Maritime Hub was completed earlier this year and work on the internal fit-out is now nearing completion.

“We anticipate opening the doors to tenants early next year and we are already in discussions with a number of organisations, businesses and training providers linked to the maritime sector.”

In May, councillors approved £950,000 of additional spending for internal works and additional construction costs at Whitby’s Maritime Hub.

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​The Whitby Harbour Reserve will fund the fitting out of floors one and two, while a further £126,000 will cover “additional construction costs”.

Cllr Crane said: “This is a significant investment in Whitby’s future.

“We want the hub to help create jobs, support new ideas and provide opportunities for young people, while building on the town’s long-standing connection with the maritime industry.”

The council’s website states: “More information about tenants will be communicated in due course.”