Moray Council has reached a significant milestone in the modernisation of Buckie Harbour, with elected members formally approving the "northern expansion" as the preferred route for the site's future development.

The decision, made during a Full Council meeting on 25 February 2026, follows a comprehensive socio-economic assessment and public consultation which concluded that extending the harbour to the north offers the most robust long-term benefits for the regional economy.

The proposed expansion is designed to transform the harbour into a high-capacity marine hub, featuring deeper berths, increased quayside space, and significantly larger laydown areas. These upgrades are specifically intended to attract emerging green energy industries—including offshore wind, marine engineering, and hydrogen production—while maintaining essential services for the harbour's existing commercial users.

-- Advertisement --

To maintain the project's momentum, the Council has allocated £182,850 from its Transformation Reserve. This initial investment will fund a dedicated project manager and essential detailed design work required to progress the Outline Business Case. While the full realisation of the Masterplan will require substantial external investment, Buckie Harbour has already been included in a regional bid to the Scottish Government's Just Transition Fund.

Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, welcomed the progress: "Buckie Harbour is a major economic asset for Moray, and today's decision moves us a step closer to ensuring it can meet future demand. The northern expansion offers the best long-term value and unlocks real opportunities for our communities, from supporting offshore wind to creating new jobs and investment."

The development phase is estimated to span approximately eight years, positioning the port to capitalise on predicted market growth in the mid-2030s. Work on the Outline Business Case is set to begin immediately, with regular progress updates to be provided to the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee.