A 10-week period of public consultation begins today on the final draft of a development masterplan and Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Nigg Yard. People will have until Friday 7 August, to have their say on the proposals for the future development of the site as a multi-user facility.

When adopted, the Masterplan will provide supplementary guidance to the local Development Plan and is also intended to inform and provide the rationale that underpins a Compulsory Purchase Order should The Highland Council, as a last resort, require to follow this procedure to enable the site to be brought back into economic use.

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the Council's Planning, Environment and Development (PED) Committee said: "This is a very important consultation document. The Nigg Yard is of immense economic development and employment creation importance for Easter Ross and the wider Highlands. It is crucial we fully realise its potential to contribute to the wider Highland economy.


"This is important at any time, but particularly so in the present economic climate and the emerging offshore renewables sector. I would encourage individuals, businesses and communities to comment on this final draft document. This will greatly assist in the production of a high quality and effective Masterplan and supplementary guidance for the Nigg yard and will significantly influence future developments in the area."

The Nigg complex, which has lain substantially vacant for the past five years, is considered a facility of strategic economic significance to the national, Highland and local economies which should be brought back into positive economic use and to avoid the continued deterioration of the existing infrastructure.

To assist in potentially unlocking the site for development, Highlands & Islands Enterprise in conjunction with The Highland Council commissioned Consultants (Halcrow & Mackay Consultants) to prepare a Development Masterplan. Its purpose is to outline a vision and feasible options for the site and maximise the site's strategic development potential and employment opportunities over the next 15 to 20 years.

The Inner Moray Firth is designated as a key regional economic zone in Scotland. The Nigg complex is the only large-scale industrial site that has the potential to be used as a flexible multi-user engineering and processing complex capable of serving a wide range of industrial uses and is particulalry well located for the enmerging offshore renewables sectors- wind, wave and tidal.

The document is also available on-line at www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/consultations.htm

(GK/JM)