Humber offshore wind hub faces delays

Able UK’s plans to build the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) were given the go-ahead in December last year when Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin granted development consent. These plans are now likely to be delayed after Parliament agreed to review objections lodged by rival port operator ABP Ports.

Soon after the December decision, ABP launched an objection to the decision stating that they had conflicting proposals of their own for a jetty on part of the same site. Able UK’s plans included compulsory purchase of a triangle of land currently owned by ABP and within the borders of the proposed park. Patrick McLoughlin’s decision would have allowed the purchase of land by Able to go ahead. After a two-day hearing, the House of Lords’ Chairman of Committees, Lord Sewell, and House of Commons’ Chairman of Ways and Means, Lindsay Hoyle, agreed the decision should be reviewed by a joint committee.

For ABP’s part, it said: “ABP is pleased with today’s decision that it is right for Parliament to review Able UK’s plans for AMEP. We also welcome the view expressed by the committee chairman at today’s hearing that both parties should work to reach a compromise as soon as possible.

“Special hearings in front of a Parliamentary Committee will now follow and ABP are extremely keen that swift progress is made. Today’s decision is undoubtedly a positive step forward and can now pave the way for a compromise to be agreed that will successfully deliver both AMEP and ABP’s Immingham Western Deepwater Jetty without further delay. ABP’s compromise proposal will not threaten any of the jobs Able UK hopes to create.

“Developing both projects will deliver the best result for the Humber economy as a whole and the largest number of jobs for the region. A compromise will also ensure the Port of Immingham, the UK’s largest port, will be able to continue to grow, increasing its vital contribution both to the economy and to national energy security. A compromise is the right outcome for the Humber and we urge Able UK to come to the table and work with us as quickly as possible.”

The Hull Daily Mail reported Able founder and executive chairman Peter Stephenson as saying the decision could “strike a hammer blow” to Britain’s green energy hopes.

He said: “It will certainly cause a lengthy delay – a recent application considered under this procedure took more than 500 days to complete – and will inevitably lead to damaging uncertainty among potential developers and investors.

By Peter Barker