The announcement was described as ‘brilliant news for our company, for the region, the UK—and the job opportunities that it will create’ by Able Executive Chairman Peter Stephenson. The decision was made by the Joint Committee of the House of Commons and the House of Lords which was established to consider petitions against the project lodged by Associated British Ports (ABP).
Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) will cover 900 acres and provide almost 1,300 metres of new heavy duty deep water quays for the marine renewables sector as well as providing a multi-user facility for the manufacture, storage, assembly and deployment of next generation offshore wind turbines and their associated supply chains.
“After a lengthy, detailed and costly planning process we gained approval from the Planning Inspectorate and then received the backing of the Government which made it very disappointing and frustrating that ABP chose to continue its efforts to block a development which really does offer a once-in-lifetime opportunity to transform the economy of the region, provide the catalyst to make the Humber a world-class ‘Energy Estuary’ and put the UK at the forefront of the renewable energy industries” said Mr Stephenson. “Despite the talk of ‘compromise’ the reality was, that if ABP had succeeded in its efforts to significantly reduce the size of the quays planned for AMEP, it would have made the development no longer economically viable and we would have had no option but to abandon it.”
Mr Stevenson added that ABP’s tactics have meant a further delay of almost a year. They could pursue a Judicial Review, but if they were to do so they would be seen by everyone as flying in the face of the decisions by the Planning Inspectorate, the Secretary of State and a Joint Committee of Parliament. It would be nothing more than a desperate attempt to retain its virtual monopoly on the Humber.
Preparatory work on the development has already begun, supported by a £15 million grant announced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles in August. The clear decision of the Joint Committee sends a strong signal to the major international players in the offshore wind sector that AMEP is now a reality and will be able to offer UK facilities equal to anywhere else in the world.
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