Offshore wind farm base proposed for Cromarty Firth

Associated British Ports is investigating the potential of a site on the Cromarty Firth

A new offshore wind farm manufacturing and assembly base has been proposed for the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Highlands.

Associated British Ports (ABP) plans to build the site at Pitcalzean Farm, just to the north of Nigg Energy Park.

The company has signed an agreement with the landowner and is to consult locally on the proposals.

The base would be within the boundaries of the planned Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

Calum MacPherson, chief executive of the freeport project, described the move as "massive news" for the area.

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ABP said it was excited to be exploring options for a base on the firth.

Chief executive Henrik Pedersen said: "Offshore wind offers huge potential to generate green energy and - if the right conditions are in place - significant jobs and prosperity benefits to Scotland and the UK."

The offshore wind base is among a number of proposals for the planned freeport

Other developments have already been proposed for a freeport.

They include plans for a large sub-sea power cable factory next to industrial docks at Nigg.

In January it was announced Cromarty Firth and the Forth had been selected to host Scotland's first green freeports.

Also called free trade zones, freeports are designated areas where the normal tax and tariff rules of the country in which they are based do not apply.

They allow goods to be imported, manufactured and re-exported without being subject to checks, paperwork, or import taxes, known as tariffs.