A major North-East company, Able UK, has announced multi-million pound plans for a 1,630 metre quay at the South Humber Gateway which will create over 5,000 new jobs.

The quay will be one of the largest in the UK and the £400m investment will make the Humber the centre of the UK's offshore wind industry.

Able UK is confident no other location is able to compete with the Humber and the South Humber Gateway site in particular.

The investment in a Marine Energy Park is a direct result of the Government's Round 3 Offshore wind licences.

Because of sailing times to the offshore wind sites, the Humber has a major competitive edge over any of its rivals, in the UK and mainland Europe. The South Humber Gateway site also scores highly due to the size of the land available and its access to the last undeveloped deep-water channel in the UK.

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It could transform the economies of both banks on to a trajectory not seen before - bringing quality, well-paid jobs. North Lincolnshire Council is working on the assumption that this, if finally approved, has the potential to create 5,100 direct jobs on the South Humber Gateway. This takes no account of indirect jobs both in the Humber and beyond.

Work on the design of the quay is under way. It is hoped that approval for the large-scale infrastructure project, from the successor to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), will be forthcoming by March 2012. It is hoped construction on the quay will be complete by summer 2015.

Cllr Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said the announcement of a new quay is a massive vote of confidence in northern Lincolnshire and the Humber. "Of course there is a long way to go before we can be 100 per cent confident that the quay will be approved by the IPC or its successor. That said, there can be little doubt most areas of the country, including in the much more prosperous South East, are desperate for such a jobs boost. Today's announcement has to be viewed as extremely positive and a real shot in the arm for our economy and for local people. This project will transform the area's economic prospects.

"The significance of this investment will be felt positively on both banks of the Humber."

(CD/BMcC)