A shipbreaking firm wants to build a £400m renewable energy centre on Humberside.

Able UK is the country’s biggest shipbreaker and hit the headlines four years ago when it dismantled ships from the so called US ‘ghost fleet’ of Secord World War vessels.

Now Able has had its plans for a marine energy park approved by North Lincolnshire Council.

It says the project will create 10,000 jobs on-site and a further 17,000 in and around north Lincolnshire.

Part of the plan includes upgrading quayside facilities at Immingham – one of the busiest ports in the UK – to enable the offloading of wind turbines.

Able will be keenly watching the outcome of tomorrow’s Spending Review, which holds in the balance a £60m overhaul of ports in the north east to give them wind turbine facilities.