The ministry asked the company to provide further information on the two issues by 25 September 2013.

The energy park on the South Bank of the Humber will be involved in manufacturing, assembling and installing offshore renewable technologies and will provide 4,000 local jobs.

Able UK group development director Neil Etherington said that the Panel which carried out the very detailed and complex examination of the company’s application recommended granting consent.

"It’s also good news that in today’s announcement Ministers do recognise the regeneration and economic benefits for both the local area and the wider development of the offshore renewable energy industry," Etherington added.

"The Planning Inspectorate gave its recommendations to government in February 2013, a decision was originally due in May and now the deadline has been pushed back to December.

"This application has been under consideration for around four years and, as part of the planning process, we have put forward measures to spend over £35m protecting wildlife and the environment.

"We will be taking immediate steps to address the issues raised in the government’s announcement today and sincerely hope that there will be no further delays in the project."