Launch of Nigg Masterplan Consultation
An 11-week period of public consultation begins on Monday 1 December to agree a development masterplan for the Nigg oil complex, Easter Ross.
The public has until 16 February, next year, to have their say on options for the future of the site as a multi-user facility.
When adopted, the Masterplan will provide supplementary planning 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. I would encourage individuals, businesses and communities to comment on the draft Masterplan. This will inform the Council’s thinking and greatly assist in the production of a high quality and effective Masterplan and supplementary planning 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 has 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 document considers two options for the future use of the site.
Option 1 looks at developing the site through a single major owner for oil, gas and renewables industries whilst Option 2 provides a more flexible layout with a range of smaller plots concentrating on renewables and a ‘green energy park’.
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.
The masterplan is available at Service Points at Alness, Dingwall, Dornoch, Fortrose, Invergordon, Muir of Ord, and Tain, libraries at Alness, Cromarty, Dingwall, Fortrose, Invergordon and Tain and post offices at Avoch, Balintore, Culbokie, Dingwall, Evanton, Fortrose, Munlochy and Poyntzfield as well Council planning offices at Glenurquhart Road, Inverness; Dingwall, and Drummuie, Golspie.
The document is also available on-line to read or download to print from the Council’s WEBSITE by following the link below:
/yourenvironment/planning/consultations.htm
Written representations on the Masterplan should be sent to the Director of Planning & Development, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX or e-mailed to Planning@highland.gov.uk.