Aberdeen Harbour Board has delayed taking a final decision on its ambitious £415million expansion into Nigg Bay as it awaits consents and further funding.
The group now expects to go ahead with the project either in late November or the start of December after the board was “fully supportive” of the scheme at a meeting yesterday.
The harbour is awaiting the backing of Scottish Government for a harbour revision order through Transport Scotland and two consents from Marine Scotland for dredging and building the new harbour.
Chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour, Colin Parker, also said the group was narrowing in on “two very strong potential sources of grant funding” in addition to a £200million loan secured through the European Investment Bank this summer.
Mr Parker said: “Our board remains committed to the proposed expansion of Aberdeen Harbour into Nigg Bay, but it is only right that we defer making a final decision until we have all the relevant information and all necessary funding streams have been fully formalised.”
He added: “We would hope to have the marine licenses by the end of this month and the harbour revision order is likely to be late November or in early December. Once we get the consents we can sign a contract with Dragados, our preferred bidder, to build the facility.”
The project is thought to have the support of Scottish ministers since it was designated as being of “national significance” in its planning framework. If the harbour order gets the nod from Scottish ministers, the draft must then be approved by resolution of the parliament before it can be made.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Transport Scotland and Marine Scotland officials are currently liaising with Aberdeen Harbour Board regarding the requirements for the respective harbour revision order and marine licence applications for the Aberdeen Harbour expansion project to ensure that all the due processes are observed.
“A decision will be made in due course.”
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