Plans to create a reconstruct and expand Aberdeen harbour quays are to be considered by the city council's planning committee.

In its application for planning permission, Aberdeen Harbour Board states that the work, which would include dredging the river bed, is required to create a harbour area suitable for modern shipping needs where harbour users can work efficiently.

The River Dee dock would be infilled and new quays and yard space created.

The area of the harbour covered by the planning application is an operational area, on the south side of the River Dee estuary, used particularly by the oil industry.

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No change to the overall use of the harbour, or variation of activities carried out there, is proposed.

An environmental statement submitted to the council on the Harbour Board's behalf states that the development would not result in any insurmountable environmental impacts.

Scottish Natural Heritage has expressed some concern about the potential impact of the construction phase of the development on Atlantic salmon, which are present in the Dee, and marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises, which are known to regularly be present at the harbour mouth.

However, subject to the imposition of certain conditions, SNH has raised no unresolved concerns about the protection of salmon or other protected species. Statutory responsibility for licensing the most sensitive aspects of the development during the construction work rests with Marine Scotland, which has the power to impose conditions requested by SNH.

Planning officials have recommended that the planning committee forwards the Aberdeen Harbour Board application to the Scottish Ministers with a willingness to approve, subject to conditions.

(GK/JM)