Cameron left blown away by scale of wind site

And after surveying the windswept scene around the Alexandra Dock, he said it was only by seeing it first hand that the sheer scale of the project and its economic impact could be truly appreciated.

“When you look out at the size of the factories that are going to be built, the size of the infrastructure that’s being put in place, the servicing industry for the offshore wind turbines as well, this is going to be something that people living in Hull today, their children will be working in these businesses for many years to come and that’s very exciting,” he said.

The importance of the announcement that Siemens and Associated British Ports will together invest £310m in creating new wind turbine facilities in Hull and the East Riding was underlined by the Prime Minister’s decision to stop at the site on his return from a summit of world leaders in The Hague.

He was shown the 56-hectare site owned by ABP in Hull that will be turned from an area occasionally used as a car park for cruise passengers that will become a new wind turbine assembly facility.

Further along the estuary shoreline at Paull, Siemens will also build a blade manufacturing facility.

While these new plants will create 1,000 jobs by themselves, it is the possibility that they could attract other major manufacturers and the associated supply businesses that represents the true significance of the deal.

It has previously been suggested that the offshore wind industry could have the same impact on the Humber that North Sea Oil has had on Aberdeen.

Speaking after his visit, the Mr Cameron went further, describing the deal as important for the UK economy as a whole.

“I think it means a lot for Britain, everyone is focusing rightly on the excitement here in Hull,” he said.

“But actually this is a world-beating industry we have got. We are number one in offshore wind anywhere around the world.

“We’ve already got the world’s largest offshore wind farm off the east coast and this is going to reinforce our position as a world leader because these factories will be making offshore wind turbines yes for the North Sea but also yes for other markets.

“As people see the advantages of offshore wind, as other countries do that, Hull will be leading the way.”

The confirmation of the Siemens and ABP investment is the latest in a string of positive news for the area including Hull’s status as UK City of Culture for 2017 and the Government signalling its support for the electrification of the railway line from Selby to Hull.

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Hull because not only the electrification and this huge investment, which we waited some time for but it’s great to have it, but also City of Culture 2017,” said the Prime Minister.

“I think that’s going to be a really big focus on Hull, its history it’s heritage but now we can see also its future as well.”

Mr Cameron described the developments on the Humber as an example of the Government’s commitment to rebalancing the economy away from the South East and a reliance on the financial sector with much more emphasis on manufacturing and unlocking the economic potential of the North.

Comment: Page 12; Wind of change: Page 13.