- ABP will open up new ports to support UK’s renewable energy sector
- The company aims to spend £5 million on on-site development.
Associated British Ports (ABP) is bringing around 435 hectares of development land to support the UK’s renewable energy sector. The port company operates 21 ports around the UK and plans to make 14 strategic sites available for a range of business uses, including manufacturing and supply chain outfits.
“The first tranche of sites includes Cardiff, Immingham, Newport, Port Talbot, Southampton and Hull. All locations will benefit from strong rail and road connectivity plus renewable energy generation”, says ABP.
During the next 18 months, the port operator said it would commit to spending more than £5m to make the sites ready for development, obtaining appropriate outline planning consents, technical understanding and carrying out essential land preparation.
ABP said ports would play an increasingly important role in supporting the offshore wind industry as the UK reshapes its energy generation strategy. Chief executive Henrik Pedersen said, “One of our biggest offshore wind projects is Green Port Hull – a £310m state-of-the-art production and assembly facility on which we partnered with the wind turbine supplier, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy”.
“Facilities off the East Coast of the UK will play a pivotal role in green energy generation, and we believe our land development initiative can help anticipate future manufacturing demand for these facilities on the way towards a net-zero carbon country.”