Nairn dropped from plans to park wind farm parts in Moray Firth

An area of seabed off Nairn no longer forms part of the plans

The scale of plans to park parts for floating wind turbines in the Inner Moray Firth have been reduced by more than 60%, its developer has said.

Offshore Solutions Group (OSG) had proposed using areas of seabed off Nairn, Culbin and Findhorn as temporary anchorage for foundation base units - large platforms usually made from concrete or metal.

The Moray Flow-Park plans have drawn criticism from coastal communities.

An area off Nairn has now been scrapped, and OSG said it made the "significant change" in line with ongoing refinements of the project.

A public meeting was held in Findhorn on the plans

Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle, who organised a public meeting in Findhorn earlier this month, said the changes were a step towards stopping the project entirely.

He added: "Local people are understandably concerned that these plans could threaten our vibrant tourist offering, harm our wonderful marine life, damage our fishermen's livelihoods, and hurt this area of conservation."

The seabed involved is a special area of conservation (SAC).

Crown Estate Scotland, which manages the seabed, has given OSG a temporary agreement allowing it to start site investigations.

It has said the project was still in its early stages.

Moray Flow-Park (South) no longer forms part of the plans

The foundation base units - each measuring about 100m (328ft) long, 100m wide and 35m (115ft) high - could be stored for several days at a time, mostly during winter.

OSG said the structures would only be anchored until they were needed for wind farms, and the activity would be regulated and licensed.

A spokesperson said: "Recent significant changes to the Moray Flow-Park project are in line with the ongoing refinement of an early-stage complex project.

"We continue to engage widely with stakeholders and to refine the project as it progresses."

The spokesperson said this would include consultation.