Agencies drop turbines site opposition

Plans for the £210m Green Port Hull development, a joint project between Associated British Ports and German manufacturer Siemens, will be discussed by Hull city councillors next week.

There were fears they could be stymied by objections from Natural England and the Environment Agency – with the latter being concerned about the lack of new habitat to replace what will be lost.

But Hull Council confirmed yesterday that both objections had now been withdrawn.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency has lifted its plans for a new renewable energy plant in Hull following discussions with Associated British Ports. We are now satisfied there is sufficient habitat compensation provided for the scheme. We will not object to the plans when they are discussed at Hull City Council’s planning committee on May 9.”

Although some 4,400 letters were sent out, the public’s response has been muted, with just a handful of letters for and against the five separate applications which make up the project.

As well as creating hundreds of temporary jobs in the 28-month construction phase, between 700 and 800 people will be employed at the plant on Alexandra Dock, which would operate continuously and be expected to produce between 200 and 300 turbines a year.

Nacelle elements, which sit on top of the towers housing the components to convert the blades’ rotation into electricity, will be manufactured on site, while the blades and tower components will arrive by ship.

A factory, offices, storage, handling, testing and assembly facilities would be built, along with a helicopter landing site. The plant would also have its own turbine.