Major plans for development at a key strategic site took a significant step forward this week.
At a meeting of North Ayrshire’s Planning Committee, elected members approved proposals for the creation of a salmon rearing facility at Hunterston.
Applicants Bakkafrost Scotland – who have over 40 sites across Scotland – were granted approval to build the complex which will be for the breeding of salmon smolts.
It is hoped that the construction process could generate 264 full-time jobs whilst the operation of the development could generate 15 direct jobs and 35 jobs in the supply chain in North Ayrshire.
The site is in the north-east corner of the Hunterston Construction Yard and will be approximately 6.75ha in area, including an existing access road from the south and a route between the main part of the site and a jetty to the north-west. The actual complex itself would be within a roughly rectangular area, some 3.3ha, in the north-west corner.
Known as a Recirculated Aquaculture System, the complex would be enclosed by a steel weldmesh security fence between 2m and 3m in height. Within the complex would be buildings for the various stages of fish development.
Hunterston is a key site within National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – the Scottish Government’s strategy for development across the country - and the Council, along with partners Peel Ports Group, Scottish Enterprise, Crown Estates and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as part of a wider strategic stakeholder working group are looking to maximise investment following nuclear decommissioning at Hunterston.
This Ayrshire Growth Deal project – which has a critical role in Scotland’s Energy, Blue Economy, Offshore Wind and the Circular Economy – will be supported by funding from the UK Government.
Councillor Robert Foster, chair of the Planning Committee, said:
“These are exciting plans and following consideration we were pleased to approve the proposals. We look forward to things progressing in the coming months.”