FORTY new jobs will be created after plans have been approved for a new marine operations and maintenance centre by offshore wind turbine group Dong Energy.

The scheme has been given the go-ahead by Wirral Council to be built at Kings Wharf in Seacombe.

The facility will provide day-to-day monitoring, servicing, maintenance and emergency repair of offshore-wind farms and marine infrastructure.

The development will consist of a new office building with crew welfare centre combined with a warehouse to store engineering materials and components.

Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said: “We welcome Dong Energy’s confidence in Wirral as the new home of their offshore-wind manufacturing and maintenance facility.

"The benefit to the local economy of having the market-leader locate in the borough shows our 'Clean Energy Coast' investment and jobs plan is working.

“We have worked hard to position Wirral as the leading location for investment in advanced clean-energy manufacturing and offshore-wind, and will continue to support future plans to meet our pledges to increase inward investment and improve opportunities for skilled jobs locally.”

The Dong development is part of Wirral Council’s plan to establish itself as a leader in green enregy.

The local authority has secured more than £11m of Regional Growth Fund to support local businesses in the sector.

Councillor Davies added: “We have worked closely with Dong Energy and others over many months to identify a suitable river-side site for this facility.

"Alternative sites had been considered in Birkenhead, but were rejected by my council team responding to community concerns.

"However we were adamant we would not lose out on attracting this important investment in jobs to Wirral.”

Dong's application for a proposed extension to the Burbo Bank wind farm was shown the green light by the Planning Inspectorate two years ago.

An additional 65 turbines will be set up four miles off the Wirral coast covering an area of 40sq km.

Each turbine will have a maximum "tip height" of 770ft.

Dong presently has 30 devices operating in the area.