Dundee City Council has announced a new development plan designed to take advantage of offshore wind and decommissioning opportunities to bring more jobs and investment to the city.

Councillors will be told next week that plans are in place to ensure that Dundee capitalises on its work so far in the sector, including the establishment of Dundeecom, membership of the Forth and Tay Offshore Cluster and money set aside in the Tay Cities Deal.

Lynne Short convener of the city development committee said: "It is important that we bring high quality, sustainable jobs to the city that pay the Living Wage and offer future opportunities for our young people, but not at a cost to the environment.

"Offshore wind and decommissioning offers us the right balance between the two and we are well placed to take advantage of the many opportunities that are out there."


Council leader John Alexander added: "We have already had some success with Texo, OM Heavy Lift, Offshore Decommissioning Services, Chinese offshore marine engineering group COES, Augean North Sea Services, John Lawrie Group and Wellsafe Solutions making significant investments, but we want more.

"More companies, more money in the city's economy and more jobs, and this plan aims to help to deliver that."

According to the report, to be considered by the city development committee on Monday (May 13), Dundee's geographical location in close proximity to major North Sea oil and gas fields and offshore wind farms, its unrestricted access to deep water port facilities, port side land assets and access to skilled labour provides a major platform to realise opportunities that will emerge in both sectors in the coming years.

In addition the Scottish Government's National Renewables Infrastructure Plan recognised Dundee as one of the most strategically important port locations for offshore renewables.

The proximity of windfarms that have already been given the go ahead such as Neart na Gaoithe (NNG), Seagreen and Inchcape to the Port of Dundee means it is an ideal location for construction/assembly of turbines and longer term operations and maintenance work.

Actions in the development plan include a commitment to attracting inward investment; developing supply chain capability; investing in skills development and research and development; and continuing to build effective public/private partnerships that support the growth of both sectors.