‘Thousands of jobs in peril’ as energy site hit by port scheme

North Lincolnshire Council is warning that if the application from Associated British Ports was approved it would “almost certainly” scupper plans for the Able Marine Energy Park, which aims to deliver 4,000 jobs in Yorkshire.

The largest single development on the Humber since the Second World War, it involves 900 acres being developed to provide advanced quayside facilities for the manufacture, assembly and installation of offshore wind farms.

After repeated delays, the Government finally approved the plans in December, which includes the small triangular piece of ABP land, representing about a seventh of the water frontage earmarked for development by Able.

Together with the Able Logistics Park, the two schemes represent an investment of £550m and promise almost 10,000 jobs.

But last night it was revealed that ABP still has hopes of using the land for a deepwater jetty and intends to object to a development consent order, which is expected to be laid before Parliament within days.

This will kick off a parliamentary Special Procedure Order, which would mean a committee of MPs being given the final say.

North Lincolnshire Council said despite being in ABP’s ownership since the 1950s there had been no planning applications for the land, with ABP “hastily” announcing its proposals during public examination.

Head of planning Marcus Walker said it was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity: “The Able Marine Energy Park will transform the economy of the entire Humber region. It will create more than 4,000 jobs and has the potential to deliver economic prosperity across Northern Lincolnshire and beyond for decades to come.

“By comparison, the ABP proposal for a jetty would provide few new jobs but would almost certainly kill off the Able Marine Energy Park proposals.”

Chairman of the Humber LEP Lord Haskins said the park was a “critical” part of plans to develop the Humber as the “UK’s energy estuary”.

He added: “We want to see it proceed as quickly as possible.”

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said: “Obviously it is regrettable, although it was anticipated. I would hope both parties can agree a way forward without causing any unnecessary delays.”

However, last night ABP tried to calm worries, saying both plans can proceed together. In a statement the port operator said they would be seeking an urgent meeting with the council and other parties “to lay out the real facts”.

It said: “ABP do not oppose the principle of the development of the Able Marine Energy Park. In a slightly altered form both Able UK’s plans and ABP’s plans could proceed alongside each other, delivering the greatest possible level of local jobs and investment. It is still not too late to ensure all parties work together, rather than against each other.”

Able Group development director Neil Etherington said Transport Secretary Robert Goodwill had been fully aware of ABP’s application when he made last month’s announcement.

He said the council’s judgment of the two proposals “reflects the overwhelming views of all those working to bring new jobs and investment to the South Bank and the Humber as a whole – not to mention the thousands of local people and their families who stand to benefit from the development of the marine energy park.”