Burnham lauds £12bn offshore wind investment as he prepares for climate summit

Package for plan off Norfolk coast revealed as government tries to calm critics after approving Jackdaw gasfield

Andy Burnham has hailed a record investment in offshore wind, as the government tries to repair its green credentials after approving the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea.

On Wednesday the government announced a £12bn investment from the German energy company RWE and the US private equity firm KKR, as the prime minister prepares to travel to the Cop31 climate crisis summit in Turkey.

The investment package, which will go towards the creation of the Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore windfarms off the Norfolk coast, is a “vote of confidence for building in Britain”, he said.