Member Article

Transport Secretary approves Humber park to bring 4,000 jobs

The Transport Secretary has approved plans for a multi-million pound renewable energy centre on the Humber that could yield 4,000 jobs.

Bosses at Able UK had waited with bated breath for the OK to their £450 million Marine Energy Park plans at Able Humber Port.

The move has been described as massively important for the region and the whole of the UK economy overall, and sets the scene for Humber to become a centre for renewable energy firms.

Able founder and executive chairman, Peter Stephenson, said: “During the public hearings into our plans for AMEP, its significance was compared to the impact of the Nissan development in the North East and this is no exaggeration. It provides the opportunity, not available at any other UK location, to create a critical mass of activity—not only producing wind turbines and their foundations but also providing a base for offshore installation.

“The Humber is ideally placed in close proximity to the world’s largest proposed offshore wind farms and, coupled with the scale of the site, the inherent strengths of local people and local businesses, we have the very best package to offer the emerging offshore wind sector.

“We know from detailed discussions with all the leading companies in the offshore wind industry that AMEP is essential for the UK to become a major player— delivering the economies of scale to meet the Government’s targets in both driving down costs and ensuring that future offshore wind projects have a significant UK content. AMEP provides that opportunity to deliver a truly integrated business cluster that will be the envy of continental competitors.

“The major international companies needed to know that the UK was serious in its commitment to the future of offshore wind development. Today’s approval – coupled with the Government’s support confirmed in the recent Autumn Statement - is just the message they required and will now enable us to progress negotiations with a range of clients wanting to bring jobs and investment to the Humber.

“This potential was, of course, underlined last month by the news that a major Foundation manufacturer - Strabag – identified AMEP as it’s ‘preferred location’ for it’s 500 job European production facility and last week saw the Humber LEP finalise it’s City Deal.

“The real work starts now although the land assembly and development process has been underway for some 14 years—investment to date has already been significant and the planning application alone has cost almost £10 million. Port developments like this are not for the faint hearted and it has been a long 6 year haul for all those involved - we are indebted to our colleagues and those from the many different companies and organisations who have provided technical and legal support.

“We firmly believe that renewable energy offers the opportunity to transform the economy of the South Bank and the Humber region as a whole. We know that view is shared by the overwhelming majority of people in the area, including local Members of Parliament, by local authorities the Local Enterprise Partnership and a wide range of local businesses.

“In particular we are indebted to North Lincolnshire Council with whom we have worked throughout the development of our plans for Able Humber Port and the Able Marine Energy Park. Their support and guidance has been invaluable.

“Today we now know that our collective hopes and ambitions for the area are also shared by the Government.”

Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP, added: “We have supported the project throughout the planning process and are delighted that it has been approved. This decision could see the transformation of our capacity to supply to the needs of the offshore wind sector and improve the competitiveness of the estuary.

“Investment in offshore wind has seen new confidence in the past few weeks and we will continue to work with Able UK and other Humber partners to support the sector to invest here, where the offshore renewables offer is world class.

“The Able Marine Energy Park is our largest enterprise zone site and a critical part of our plans for growing the Humber as the UK’s energy estuary. Now that it has been approved I want to see the project get underway without any further delays.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .