Plans to extend a Highland port, creating up to 2,500 jobs, were given the green light yesterday.
Councillors gave their blessing to a master plan for regeneration of Kishorn yard in Wester Ross, with the hope that it will stop the flow of young people away from the region.
The £60million development will involve paving the way for the harbour and dry dock to become a fabrication and assembly centre for the lucrative offshore energy sector.
Accommodation for workers will also be built on the site.
The news was welcomed by politicians and business leaders yesterday.
The yard was developed in the 1970s and by 1977 there were over 3,000 people working there. One of the biggest projects was building the Ninian Central Platform.
At the time, the 600,000tonne concrete platform was the largest man-made moveable object.
But the operators went bust in the late 1980s and while works has been going on at the yard in recent years, it is hoped that Kishorn’s redevelopment will mirror that on the other side of the Highlands at Nigg, where the fabrication yard has been brought back to life by the Global Energy Group.
Yesterday Kishorn Port Ltd (KPL), the consortium behind the Kishorn plans said they were delighted with the council’s decision.
“We are attracting an increasing number of inquiries from fabricators/developers for the use of the site with its unique facilities including one of the largest dry docks in western Europe and an on-site quarry,” said director Alasdair Ferguson.
“The deep waters of Loch Kishorn make it ideal for the manufacture of large concrete structures, and in particular foundations for offshore wind turbines. KPL’s focus has been on delivering a “shovel ready” site to potential developers and this permission ensures that there should be no barriers to an early regeneration of the Yard.”
“I have seen young people leave high school and university and college, never to return to their homeland. There were no jobs to come home to,” said local councilor Biz Campbell.
“Here today we have an opportunity for young people to get training, apprenticeships to allow them to remain in their local area.
“This development will boost the Highland economy and provide year-round employment.”
Councillors unanimously granted planning permission, subject to a list of conditions covering drainage, access and noise.
An otter survey will also be carried out.