Construction work has got under way on a £5.5 million operations and maintenance facility in the Wirral for major renewable energy firm DONG Energy.

Robertson North West, which is part of the £300 million turnover infrastructure group Robertson, has begun work on-site on the project at Kings Wharf in Seacombe. The facility is situated at the entrance to the Birkenhead dock system.

Once complete, it is anticipated that the facility will be home to 45 full-time staff serving the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm along with the new Burbo Bank Extension which is due to be complete next year. Office space, and changing, welfare and ancillary facilities, will be arranged across two floors with an accompanying warehouse.

Regional managing director of Robertson North West, Carl Wilde, commented: “We are delighted to start construction on this exciting development that will regenerate a site in an important docklands location.

“We look forward to working closely with DONG Energy to deliver this project, and providing them with a quality base from which they can operate and maintain their wind farms.”

Senior construction engineer at DONG Energy, Brian McMorrow, added: “It was important for us to use a regionally based construction company so we’re really pleased to be working with Robertson North West. DONG Energy is committed to investing in the UK and we are very proud to be playing an important role in the redevelopment of this part of Kings Wharf.”

The project is due to be complete in mid-2017.

DONG Energy has also announced plans to build what it claims will be the biggest offshore wind operations and maintenance hub in the UK in Grimsby to support its work in the area.

The Danish energy firm announced on Friday that subject to planning approval, the new multi-million pound hub is set to be developed in the town’s Royal Dock and will initially support DONG’s Westermost Rough, Race Bank and Hornsea Project One offshore wind farms.