Cameron backs plans that promise 4,000 turbine jobs

The Prime Minister described the proposed Able Marine Energy Park as a “very important investment” for Britain and promised to look personally at the repeated delays to the scheme’s planning application at the Department for Transport (DfT).

Port owner Able UK wants to develop 320 hectares of land close to the Port of Immingham for a huge waterside facility, purpose-built for the offshore wind industry.

A decision on Able’s planning application was due earlier this year but has been delayed until December and at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers implored Mr Cameron to intervene.

“The Government have been working hard to attract investment into northern Lincolnshire and the Humber with considerable success, but these efforts could be undermined by further delays to determine the application by Able UK,” Mr Vickers said.

“May I urge the Prime Minister to respond to requests from North Lincolnshire council and the Humber local enterprise partnership to intervene, to ensure an early determination of the application well before the December deadline?”

Mr Cameron revealed he has already held discussions with North Lincolnshire MPs, and pledged to do all he could to ensure the Humber becomes a “magnet” for green energy investment.

“I have spoken to (Mr Vickers) and his Humberside colleagues on a number of occasions about this very important investment,” he said. “We all want to see the Humber estuary become a real magnet for investment, particularly green energy investment, so I am very happy to look at the issue... and particularly at the planning permission – with, of course, the responsible council.”

Able UK has been deeply frustrated by the repeated delays to its proposed development, which has now been stuck in the planning system for almost four years.

The company has been in negotiations with major wind turbine manufacturers for several years but needs planning permission before any deal can be signed off.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said last month he was “minded to approve” Able’s plan but wanted more information on measures to mitigate the loss of mudflats, which are an important feeding ground for wading birds.He promised a final decision would be given by December 18.

Able UK executive chairman Peter Stephenson said: “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.”