North Ayrshire residents are being encouraged to share their opinions on plans for Hunterston.
Peel Ports has revealed its plans for the major port and industrial centre, one of Scotland’s most important development sites comprising a 300 acre brownfield footprint, deepwater, and rail connections.
The details are contained in a masterplan, published last week at the beginning of a six-week consultation process.
It is calling on North Ayrshire residents and businesses to share their opinions about potential uses of the site, which is expected to support over 1700 jobs and add over £140m in economic value to Scotland.
Andrew Hemphill, port drector, Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “No other single site in the UK offers Hunterston’s unrivalled combination of deep-water, extensive land area and transport links.
This historic industrial site has the potential to transform Scotland’s prospects in a variety of key economic sectors, providing jobs, skills development, import and export opportunities for decades to come.
“The intended benefits that we have set out can only be achieved with the input of the local community, public sector agencies and commercial partners.
“That will help us to create a final version that reflects the shared ambitions of the people who live, work and invest in North Ayrshire.”
In recent years, the Government has changed its preferred energy policy from fossil fuels towards renewable resources. The result is Hunterston Port’s role, as a major importer of coal previously burnt in Scottish power stations, is now obsolete.
Peel Ports has already worked with North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and many businesses in preparing the masterplan and is now consulting with the public and others stakeholders about the next steps.
Karen Yeomans, executive director of economy and communities at North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is exciting news and I’m delighted to see the masterplan unveiled to help unlock the vast potential held by the Hunterston site.
“We want North Ayrshire to be a vibrant, outward-looking and confident region that is an even better place to live for our communities and attractive to both investors and visitors, and these proposals will play a significant part of achieving that ambition.”
Among the potential uses put forward in the master plan are: liquid natural gas terminal, combined cycle gas turbine power station, train manufacturing plant, modular manufacturing, concrete batching, marine construction and decommissioning, aquaculture and plastics recycling and storage.
Copies of the master plan areavailable online at www.hunterstonparc.com and for inspection at the offices of North Ayrshire Council.
Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, said: “Our young people need opportunities for high-quality, skilled jobs and I am determined to see those brought to Hunterston. It is a prime site for investmen. We much create a new future for employment in the region otherwise we will continue to see a drain of talent to Glasgow and beyond.”
