MORE than 200 new jobs could be created in Harwich partly thanks to a massive new wind farm project.

Wind farm firm Innogy is looking to set up an operations and maintenance base for the Galloper Wind Farm on five acres at Harwich International Port.

Works are expected to start in spring 2017 and will directly lead to 90 new construction and operation jobs.

The Harwich site will support the Galloper Wind Farm – scheduled to start operations in 2018 – which is an extension of the existing Greater Gabbard Wind Farm off Suffolk.

Lowestoft has been chosen as the construction port for the wind farm and it was expected that it would also be in line for the operations and maintenance contract.

But Innogy, which is leading the development of the project, has today announced it has agreed a lease in principle with Harwich Port.

The move has been welcomed as a significant jobs boost for Harwich.

Giles Watling, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: “This will provide a significant and sustainable jobs boost for around 25 years and will also result in supply chain opportunities for a wide range of businesses involved with offshore renewables.

“This announcement will help to cement the identity of the town as a centre for offshore renewable engineering and help the council and its partners to strengthen the Harwich offshore offer.”

Mr Watling said it will provide new opportunities for the Harwich Energy Skills Centre, run from Hamilton House by Colchester Institute.

“It will also give an impetus for the council to further test its ambition to deliver an Innovation Centre in Harwich, providing managed office space and business support services for new and established businesses.

“Innogy’s announcement to locate in Harwich is expected to result in around 90 jobs being created at the port with a further 100 at the Innovation Centre, should the project proceed,” added Mr Watling.

“Together with new and unrelated activity at the port, the town looks set to secure more than 240 jobs over the next two years.

“This level of new employment is unprecedented in recent times and will have a major impact on the local economy with spin-offs for the Tendring district.”

Mr Watling added that Innogy’s choice of Harwich for its base will be a “catalyst” for economic growth and regeneration in the town.

Innogy is currently undertaking a consultation over its proposals and will be submitting planning applications over the next couple of weeks.

Toby Edmonds, project director for the Galloper Wind Farm, said: “We have recently agreed a lease in principle with Harwich Port for the Galloper operations and maintenance base and are currently pursuing planning permission in relation to this.

"Following the redesign of the project in 2015 we considered a number of options in relation to the operations and maintenance base and Harwich meets the project’s specific requirements.”