Able UK has today warmly welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s description of its plans for a multi-million Marine Energy Port on the South Bank of the Humber as a ‘very important investment’ and his promise to look at the issue of finalising a decision on the development.
Mr Cameron was responding to a question in the Commons from the Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers who warned that efforts to attract inward investment to the North Lincolnshire and Humber region were being undermined by delays in determining the planning application for the Marine Energy Park which is planned to cover 906 acres, providing 1,279 metres of state-of-the-art quayside facilities purpose built for the manufacture, assembly and installation of offshore renewable technologies. It is at the centre of the largest Enterprise Zone in the UK and, as well as attracting around 4,000 local jobs directly, is seen as the catalyst for establishing the Humber as a world-class centre for the renewable energy industries.
The Planning Inspectorate recommended approval to Government in February, a decision was due in May but now the deadline has been pushed back to December.
Mr Vickers urged the Prime Minister to respond to requests from the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership to intervene to ensure an early determination of the application, before the December deadline.
In reply Mr Cameron said he was very happy to look at the issue, adding ‘We all want to see the Humber estuary become a real magnet for investment, particularly green energy investment.’
Able UK Executive Chairman Peter Stephenson commented: “It is very encouraging to have such positive comments from the Prime Minister and we are very grateful for the support received from Martin Vickers, together with the rest of our local MPs, the local authority, the local enterprise partnership and many other agencies in stressing the importance of the Marine Energy Park and the once-in-a-generation opportunity it provides to transform the economy of the area.
“Having the Prime Minister describe it as a ‘very important investment’ will we hope send a strong and positive message to the international businesses we need to attract to fulfil the the development and indeed the Humber as a whole—and we certainly hope that it will also be taken on board by his Government colleagues.”
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Press release, September 13, 2013; Image: amep