Hundreds more jobs could be created at Hunterston with the repurposing of the marine construction yard, say ports bosses.
Peel Ports and their project consultants were giving residents an update about plans for upgrading of the site before making it available for a tenant in the offshore wind industry,
A projected 900 jobs are already set to be created at the XLCC cable manufacturing development.
Residents attended a recent consultation in Fairlie Village Hall to hear the latest.
The Hunterston repurposed port would be similar to one in France where wind turbines structures are built and floated out to the sea bed, then the turbines put on top.
It's not yet been decided if the turbine blades and units would be constructed at the site.
A similar site in France created 2,500 jobs, the News was informed at the public consultation event.
Clydeport are considering options for developing Hunterston Port through the demolition and infilling of the existing dry dock and provision of a new quay on the western side of the site. This will form a construction platform that can service the offshore renewables sector.
Peel Ports have also made a firm commitment to carry out a full environmental impact assessment. This will ensure that the potential environmental effects in relation to both terrestrial and marine effects can be identified, assessed, and mitigated where required.
The yard will be available for activity 24/7, working in shifts and linked to vessel activity being tidally dependent.
Peel Ports issued the following statement during the consultation: "Additional investment into regeneration and repurposing of Hunterston Construction Yard is generally welcomed.
"It is noted that Hunterston PARC (Port and Resource Centre) is privately owned and that Peel Ports are the developer and investor.
"The proposed construction works relating to the construction yard improvements would generate in the region of 40-50 jobs.
"The number of additional jobs that could be generated at the Marine Construction Yard is operator dependent but is likely to be several hundred."
James McSporran, Clydeport’s port director at Peel Ports Group, said: “We recently held the second of our public consultations on our prospective planning and marine license applications for the upgrading works to the existing Hunterston Construction Yard site.
"This will create a new facility to service the offshore renewables sector.
“The project, if approved, will support the growing demand for the UK’s offshore wind supply chain and we expect it will create many green jobs, as well as play a major part in the regeneration of the west coast of Scotland’s economy.
“The consultation, at Fairlie Village Hall, (pictured above) represented a crucial opportunity for the local community to engage in the decision-making process and discuss their views and opinions on the proposals with our project team.
"We are incorporating that valuable feedback into our final planning application for the site, which we intend to submit early next year.”
XLCC have already received planning permission for an HVDC subsea cable manufacturing at Hunterston.
The brownfield site will create a new UK industry to support global decarbonisation targets, and support 900 jobs in the area, with thousands more in the wider supply chain.
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