Plans to transform the former oil fabrication yard at Ardersier and bring it back into use have been approved.

The Scottish Government granted permission for the scheme to go ahead. The company behind the proposals, Port of Ardersier Ltd, had already secured planning permission in principle from the Highland Council earlier this year.

Described as a "major milestone", the 400-acre facility on the Moray Firth will be transformed into a manufacturing "super-hub" for offshore wind farms.

As many as 2,500 jobs could be created through the work.

Welcoming the investment, Port of Ardersier Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Captain Steve Gobbi, said: "This is a major milestone for the Port of Ardersier. There are few, if any, vacant sites of this scale in the northern North Sea offering deep water access and the potential to undertake manufacturing, assembly, operations, maintenance and decommissioning from a single location.


"We now have the all-clear to commence site works and undertake major dredging which will see the port open for business next year. We now have a compelling offering to offshore wind consortia, manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers and operations and maintenance contractors – and have been in discussion with a number of major firms which can benefit from this vast, dedicated and unrestricted site with superb access to major offshore wind zones."

Calum Davidson, Director of Energy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, added: "This is significant news for the Port of Ardersier. It was an iconic fabrication site in the heyday of the oil boom in the seventies and the eighties.

"By gaining full consent to develop as a renewables hub, it is further recognition of the significance of the available and flexible space at the Port of Ardersier to service this growing part of the energy sector. This also highlights the strength of the offering in terms of facilities in ports and harbours across the Highlands and Islands, with wide variety of possibilities for both the renewables and the oil and gas sectors."

Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of The Highland Council, commented: "Highland Council is committed to helping to create high quality jobs in our region and our Programme for the Council specifically focusses on assets such as Ardersier. This news is something that we all welcome and we are delighted to have been part of the effort to get to this point. We will continue to work hard to support job creation at this economically important site."

Located at Whiteness Head, west of Nairn, the site is the former McDermott Yard. It opened in the 1970s for the fabrication and construction of offshore platforms for use in the North Sea gas and oil industry. In 2001, it was forced to close as the demand fell.

(JP/MH)