Labour eyes major investment in Norfolk and Suffolk's ports

Dr Alan Whitehead, shadow minister for energy security, has signalled cash could be directed towards projects in Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Felixstowe as part of the move towards clean energy.

He says this will be necessary to unlock the east of England's potential to become a major player in the UK energy sector as one of the biggest providers of wind power.

An aerial view of Lowestoft Port (Image: Associated British Ports)

The Southampton MP made the comments at a conference in Cambridge last week organised by the Eastern powerhouse - a group calling for more government investment in the region.

Mr Whitehead said: "The green energy revolution will need enormous investment in every region but the east has tremendous possibilities that need to be taken advantage of. It has all the attributes to become a major player in the future.

"The east coast's port assets are seriously under-utilised but they will be a pivotal tool in making the revolution work.

"We are expecting a four-fold increase in offshore wind energy which will land in the east.

"Places like Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Felixstowe will play a key role in providing services to these farms and the facilities will need to be upgraded to facilitate this."

Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour's shadow minister for energy security (Image: PA)

These port locations could become centres for green energy manufacturing as part of the plans due to being on the frontline of the energy industry. 

Mr Whitehead also said supporting the completion of the Sizewell C nuclear power project in Suffolk would be a priority for a Labour government.

However, Labour's promises of investment have become increasingly muddled after Sir Keir Starmer dropped the flagship policy of spending £28bn a year on green projects.

The move was blasted by environment campaigners when it was announced in February and it remains unclear what this means for the promised investments and how the money would be split.

HEART OF ENERGY SECTOR 

East Anglia is at the heart of the UK’s renewable energy sector, with 43pc of the nation’s offshore wind generated on our shores.

READ MORE: Port firm's bridge 'blockade' hitting boat firm's trade

The east of England will become a major player in the UK's energy industry (Image: Vattenfall)

But industry experts warn that soaring costs, a growing skills gap, and limited infrastructure to support the expanding sector are creating unprecedented difficulties. 

Labour says it will create 56,000 new jobs in the region by investing in this sector to help change this.

READ MORE: Bid for new Norfolk railway station revealed

The port of Felixstowe (Image: PA)

Cash to support this will come through creating Great British Energy - a publicly-owned energy company.

Profits raised will be invested in a national wealth fund that can support the training necessary to tackle the skills gap, while also being used for developing clean energy technologies.

Business leaders have warned the Orwell Bridge in Ipswich is in need of major investment to support the growth of the region's port towns (Image: Sonya Duncan)

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED

However, industry leaders warned Mr Whitehead that major improvements were needed to the region's roads for the ports to flourish in the future.

An Ipswich-based businessman warned that problems at Orwell Bridge, which is frequently forced to shut due to bad weather, are hampering the growth of Felixstowe - the biggest container port in the country - due to difficulties in transporting freight via the road network.

Stalling road improvements in Norfolk - such as the A47 and Norwich Western link - are also proving a hurdle.

Eastern Powerhouse executive director Steven Lynch (L) and chair James Palmer (R) alongside Conservative MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, and Dr Alan Whitehead, shadow minister for energy security, at a conference in Cambridge (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Chloe Smith, Conservative MP for Norwich North, told attendees that improvements to the railway network are just as important as roads.

She added that the proposal to enhance the capacity of Ely Junction in Cambridgeshire is "vital" for unlocking the eastern ports to the rest of the country.

Improvements to the railway network are needed to improve connectivity with the region's ports and the rest of the country (Image: Port of Felixstowe)

A push for railway improvements is central to Eastern Powerhouse's vision for creating a more unified economy in the region.

The group is currently consulting with West Norfolk Council to identify how it could help with lobbying the government for funding to create a new railway station on land south of King's Lynn.

It is also speaking with Norfolk councils to identify railway stations across the county that could be developed into so-called "business hubs" - a plan to bring new investment to decaying stations and to encourage companies to locate their operations close to the railway network.