THE region’s ports could be in line for a boost after the Government agreed to spend �60million on manufacturing wind farm turbines.

The news came as the Department of Energy and Climate Change and national property owner The Crown Estate joined forces to support development of ports’ infrastructure for offshore wind farms.

The news could mean that giant wind turbines are built in the region’s ports over the next few years, with the added possibility of new jobs created for the work.

Making the announcement yesterday in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We need thousands of offshore turbines in the next decade and beyond yet neither the factories nor these large port sites currently exist.

“And that, understandably, is putting off private investors. So we’re stepping in. To help secure private sector investment in this technology, we’re providing up to �60m to meet the needs of offshore wind infrastructure at our ports.

“And to help move things forward, the Crown Estate will also work with interested ports and manufacturers to realise the potential of their sites.

“It’s a triple win. It will help secure our energy supplies, protect our planet and the Carbon Trust says it could create 70,000 jobs.”

Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, added: “We want the jobs, manufacturing and skills base for this exciting new industry to be here in the UK, and we are taking decisions that attract investment.

“We need world-class infrastructure to support our economic growth.

“So today we have made sure that even in the face of such pressure on public finances, we prioritise the areas that will help us dump the deficit.”

Nobody from the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich was available to comment on the developments.

ken.mcerlain@eadt.co.uk