Kishorn Port Ltd.’s (KPL) planning application for the redevelopment of the redundant oil fabrication yard at Kishorn was given the full support of The Highland Council at today’s (22 October) Planning Committee meeting in Inverness.
The way is now clear for KPL to market the Yard to the emerging renewables sector as a potential site for the manufacture and assembly of structures for the offshore wind, wave and tidal renewable energy industries.
The planning process has taken almost three years to complete and has been part funded by Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE).
Commenting on the day’s events, Simon Russell, a Director of KPL said “This application, with its successful outcome, has been long in the gestation, and represents a significant step forward in the regeneration of a tremendous asset that has lain dormant for far too long”.
“In developing the application, we have taken full consideration of the responses from the local population, and there will be numerous conditions appended to the planning approval to underpin the environmental sensitivities of the site”.
Alasdair Ferguson, Director, added “We are attracting an increasing number of enquiries 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. The deep waters of Loch Kishorn make it ideal for the manufacture of large concrete structures, and in particular foundations for off-shore 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”.
The Kishorn Yard was initially developed by Howard Doris in the 1970’s as a manufacturing base for concrete super structures for the North Sea oil industry. The Ninian Central Platform, weighing in at a massive 610,000tonnes was born at the Yard, which continued in operation until 1988. The dry dock was last used in the early ‘90’s for the casting of the two concrete caissons used to support the Skye Bridge. At its peak, the Yard employed over 3,000 personnel, and it is one of the ambitions of KPL to generate a new wave of employment in the area and lead a supply chain that will generate many opportunities for local businesses.
Press release, October 23, 2013; Image: kishornport