Fresh plans to build a power plant in Maryport have been revealed.

An international energy company's proposal to build on the former Cumbria Seafoods site was thrown out by Allerdale planners earlier this year.

The council said the substantial plot on the Solway industrial Estate should be used to create jobs.

Now the company, Rydberg Development Ltd, has revived its plans claiming that there has been no interest from other developers to bring employment opportunities.

The firm wants to build an 8mw peaking power station on the land - a structure roughly the size of the town's Lidl supermarket.

In a report to the planners, Rydberg said this property had been offered for sale on several occasions and there appeared to be no interest in establishing another industry on the site.

Rydberg, in a statement to the planners said: “It is clear the site has been offered for sale or lease with no initial uptake for a period in excess of five years.”

The report added that it was finally bought by Prospect Estates at auction where it realised only its initial reserve price due to a lack of interest.

“It is clear from the site marketing history that there has been no other or previous interest in developing the site, or redeveloping it in conjunction with the units previous owned by Cumbrian Seafoods Limited, for an employment use. “

An application to build 65 homes of the site of the disused Cumbria Seafoods factory was turned down for the same reason.

Prospect Estates, who bought the site in January, planned the housing development and appealed to the Secretary of State when it was turned down by Allerdale planners.

When Rydberg, through Encora Energy in the North East, applied for planning permission earlier this year, it stated that it would lead to limited employment during the construction stage.

The plant is what is known as peaking plants, designed to stabilise energy supply as the UK moves to more renewable energy.

Peaking plants do not operate all the time but begin generating electricity to the National Grid when there is a drop in energy.

It is thought that this type of plant would be used for about 20 years until renewable energy sources became more stable.

“There will be some limited opportunities for local sub-contractors during the construction

Residents and businesses on or neighbouring the Solway Industrial Estate have until Tuesday to comment on this latest application.