A DELEGATION of renewable energy manufacturers are to lobby the Secretary of State amid concerns over the lack of incentives available to attract major firms to the North East.

Businesses forming the Energi Coast group say they are seeking to show MPs the jobs potential if more can be done to encourage major turbine producing firms to come to the region.

This time last year, in the run up to the Budget, the then energy secretary Chris Huhne said he was confident major firms would be heading to the banks of the River Tyne.

Mr Huhne denied the claims that it had become harder to attract big name firms to the region, citing Spanish energy firm Gamesa and GE as two companies looking to produce turbines in Tyneside.

Twelve months on and Gamesa has brought work to Scotland but nothing to Tyneside. It is understood talks about using Shepherd Offshore land or the former Swan Hunters yard now owned by North Tyneside Council reached difficulties over the inability of English locations to offer suitable incentives.

The Department for Energy has insisted there is help for the industry available, with parts of the region securing a new status as a Government-backed Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering.

Ministers granted enterprise zone status to sites along the North bank of the Tyne last year, with the final arrangements needed to complete the series of tax incentives due to be finalised in the coming month.

There has also been regional growth fund cash for infrastructure work to prepare sites for new firms.

Despite this, and the general increase in other offshore industry jobs, the biggest announcement for turbine manufacturing came last August when Clipper Windpower announced it would not be opening a factory in Tyneside.