North Lincolnshire scores hat trick in unprecedented investment worth over £1bn

The investment includes:

£450m Able Marine Energy Park creating around 4,000 jobs – Europe’s largest offshore wind park

£610m phase one Lincolnshire Lakes development creating 4,000 jobs –the development will be three times the size of Venice

£5m new BAE Systems Training Academy at Humberside Airport creating around 60 apprentice opportunities each year resulting in 150 jobs – a first for the North Lincolnshire

The latest development – Able UK’s ambitious plans to create a Marine Energy Park can finally now go ahead. The Government, last night rejected ABP’s objection. The Joint Committee considering the AMEP Special Parliamentary Procedures voted by a majority five to one in deciding that there was no case for Able to answer in relation to the two petitions ABP lodged.

This means work can now press ahead in creating the largest offshore wind park in Europe. The development will make North Lincolnshire the UK’s renewable energy capital – making the Humber a premier location for offshore wind, energy and renewables in the UK.

North Lincolnshire Council, earlier in the year, secured a £15m grant to start infrastructure works for AMEP.

The latest good news follows last week’s announcement that a new £7m 100-bed luxury hotel will be built at Humberside Airport, creating 60 jobs. Plus work is already well underway to build the new £9.5m Humber University Technical College in Scunthorpe, creating 600 student places and 220 jobs. And the £23m investment at the Trent Valley Retail park that will tomorrow see Debenhams and Marks and Spencer open tomorrow – resulting in a further 300 new jobs being created.

Councillor Liz Redfern, North Lincolnshire Council leader, said: “This is an unprecedented week in the history of North Lincolnshire; with huge levels of investment worth over £1bn is just fantastic. It not only shows the confidence in our local economy, but of investors and businesses too.

“AMEP is undoubtedly one of the most scrutinised planning applications in the country. The decision has been a long time coming and I am pleased common sense has prevailed and we can now press ahead with the project. This is a major multi-million pound investment that will bring thousands of jobs to North Lincolnshire. Any further attempts to delay the development would be extremely disappointing. The go-ahead provides the opportunity to unite the Humber and put our area at the forefront of renewable energy.

“North Lincolnshire has reduced its unemployment to less than 2.8 per cent – the lowest in the region. These latest announcements show that North Lincolnshire’s economy is going from strength to strength and is the place to do business. It is the number one destination for business relocation and we will continue to strive to create more wealth and job opportunities.”