ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS (ABP) has ended its long-running challenge to the development a £450m energy facility on the south bank of the River Humber.
This month’s High Court rejection of its demand for an official examination of the Government’s decision to grant a Development Control Order (DCO) for the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) effectively exhausted the port operator’s options.
In a statement ABP said the decision not to pursue the matter further reflected the reality that it has been unable to convince Able UK of the merits of its compromise proposal “which would have allowed both AMEP and ABP’s own Immingham Western Deepwater Jetty project to be developed in tandem, bringing more jobs to the Humber”.
The energy park — part of the UK’s largest enterprise zone — was finally given the green light in October. For years it has been the subject of a bitter wrangle between Able UK and ABP over the compulsory purchase of a triangle of land owned by the port owner, which claims it intended to build a new jetty on the same plot.
“From the outset of the application procedure ABP has not opposed the development of the AMEP offshore wind manufacturing project, but has consistently objected to Able UK’s proposed seizure of ABP’s riverside development land at the Port of Immingham,” added ABP Humber director, John Fitzgerald.
“We are clearly disappointed not to have convinced Able UK that a compromise could deliver the best outcome for the Humber region.
“Able UK’s clear commitment to the offshore wind industry is welcome and many will be looking forward to them delivering on their promise to create over 4,000 direct jobs at AMEP and help cement the Humber Estuary’s position as the UK hub for this developing industry,” Fitzgerald concluded.
Peter Stephenson is executive chairman at Able UK. “I am sure that across the whole region there will be a sigh of relief that this saga, which has gone on for so long, is now coming to an end and that we can all now concentrate on driving forward AMEP,” he commented.
“ABP says it has taken this decision because it has been unable to convince Able of the merits of its case, but, of course, the reality is that its arguments have failed to convince the hugely detailed and lengthy planning process, overseen by senior planning inspectors, a Government minister, a Joint Parliamentary Committee — and finally the High Court.”
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