by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The go-ahead for investment in UK wind energy has renewed hopes that it could bring hundreds of manufacturing jobs to Medway.

The Coalition Government said yesterday that offshore wind will create some 70,000 jobs over the next few years with millions of pounds being pumped into the industry.

Prime Minister confirmed that £60 million will be invested in upgrading British ports to handle offshore turbines and said he wanted the UK to be a world leader in offshore wind energy.

This statement was designed to reassure turbine manufacturers that they should go ahead with multi-million pound investment in factories.

General Electric, Siemens, Gamesa of Spain and other companies have all indicated they wish to invest in UK plants and create thousands of jobs.

Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county for business investment, has been courting the industry for some time.

It has identified the so-called Medway Superhub which it claims has all the advantages that a wind turbine manufacturer would need, including enough land - around 400 acres - for a supply chain.

The Isle of Grain, Kingsnorth, the Port of Sheerness, Queenborough and Rushenden and, beyond Medway, the Lafarge site at Northfleet, with its River Thames frontage and deep water access, are likely to appeal to manufacturers.

Peter Symons, the agency's director of business development, confirmed it was pitching for the investment.

The Medway Superhub was one of only four locations in the UK with all the required attributes, he said.

"It is extremely good news if any of the manufacturers are confirming investment and we are very hopeful, although we don't know, whether any of that investment is destined for the Medway.

"We are fighting as hard as we possibly can to bring one or more of them into the Medway Superhub."