New plans could scupper marine park

The winter sunshine reflects off the River Humber as a boat passes below the Humber Bridge, close to the Able Marine Energy Park development site.

North Lincolnshire Council says the move would “almost certainly” kill off plans for the Able Marine Energy Park which aims to deliver 4,000 jobs.

ABP wants to develop a triangle of land it owns for a deepwater jetty, including a port facility to import liquid bulk goods.

The Government finally gave consent to the plans in December, which included the small piece of ABP land, after repeated delays.

At the time Able compared its significance to the impact of Nissan opening its car plant in Sunderland back in the 1990s.

Together with the Able Logistics Park that has already been given planning consent, the two schemes represent a total investment of £550m and promise almost 10,000 jobs.

Marcus Walker, Head of Planning and Regeneration at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The Able Marine Energy Park will transform the economy of the entire Humber region. It is set to become the largest offshore wind park in Europe. 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. The Secretary of State for Transport has already fully considered and rejected the ABP proposals when he granted the Development Consent Order and it is hoped that we can now start to create the construction jobs for the new Able Marine Energy Park and get on with development as quickly as possible.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Humber that we don’t want to miss out on. Therefore we are strongly objecting to ABP’s proposal to ensure that the AMEP can continue as planned to totally transform the North Lincolnshire economy and wider region.”