£150 Million Hunterston Port Redevelopment Receives Approval

A £150 million project aimed at redeveloping the former Hunterston coal terminal site in North Ayrshire has received official approval. Peel Ports Clydeport, the owner of the location, has secured planning permission to backfill the dry dock and establish a “hub for the blue and green economies.” The proposals for the 350-acre (142-hectare) site encompass the development of the world’s largest Liquid Air Energy Storage facility and capabilities for subsea cable manufacturing. According to the company, this undertaking is projected to draw £3.5 billion in inward investment and generate over 5,000 employment opportunities. The commencement of the redevelopment is slated for 2025, with an estimated completion time of approximately two years. Peel Ports states that the project will contribute to enhancing prospects for the expansion of offshore wind power along Britain’s western coasts. The company indicates that as much as 90% of the site has been secured through options by businesses within the sustainable energy sector. Prospective occupants are expected to include firms involved in subsea cable manufacturing and the fabrication of gravity base structures. These structures are substantial submersible units characterized by heavy bases, designed to rest on the seabed and remain fixed by their inherent weight and frictional forces. While historically employed in the oil and gas industry, the underlying technology is currently being modified for applications within the offshore wind sector. Lewis McIntyre, who serves as the managing director of port services at Peel Ports Group, commented that the location is poised to become a “major facilitator” for the UK’s shift towards sustainable energy. He stated, “There will be no energy transition without ports, and harnessing the potential of sites like Hunterston is key to achieving the UK’s net-zero goals.” McIntyre added, “The knock-on benefits for the local and national economies are also significant. We look forward to working with the policymaking community to create the investment conditions we need to replicate the success of Hunterston at other sites across the country.” The Hunterston terminal, situated south of Fairlie and across from the island of Great Cumbrae, previously held the distinction of being one of Scotland’s crucial industrial locations. Established in 1979, it provided a deep-water port that facilitated the import of iron ore destined for the Ravencraig steelworks. Following the closure of Ravenscraig in 1992, the terminal was utilized for importing coal for the Longannet and Cockenzie power stations, located in Fife and East Lothian, respectively. This operational function ceased in 2016, coinciding with the closure of Longannet. Site clearance by the owners commenced in 2019.