Lowestoft site has offshore wind potential

The first phase of the GB£300,000 demolition project to provide more development land for ABP and surrounding local businesses is focused on the former Shell Lowestoft base which served the Southern North Sea operations of Shell and was an important employer until its closing in 2004.

Andrew Harston, ABP short sea ports director, said: “The new site will afford massive potential for a range of different industrial uses. It would make a perfect base for additional operations and maintenance centres to support the offshore wind industry, which would further underpin Lowestoft’s position as the East of England’s renewable energy hub. We have engaged architects to help bring this vision to life for our energy partners.”

Offshore wind importance

He added that ABP is supporting Lowestoft’s development as a “strategically important” centre for the UK’s offshore wind sector and is working with partners including ScottishPower to build on the region’s ability to provide offshore energy.

Having started in August 2018, the demolition programme is progressing to schedule. So far eight acres have been cleared with the remainder of the area to be free of all structures by early 2019 and made ready for use by industry.

The project brings ABP’s total investment in the Port of Lowestoft to GB£1m in the last quarter, as part of its Energy Hub vision.

In October, ABP signed a new contract with Goodchild Marine Services Limited to construct a new pilot boat for the port, which has also recently benefited from a GB£10m investment by ScottishPower Renewables in a new operations and maintenance (O&M) facility.