The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Deep-water quay project on reserve list for UK funding
Aproposed project to construct a deep-water quay facility in Scapa Flow to service the offshore wind industry has been placed on the reserve list for UK Government funding.
The FLOWMIS fund has two preferred projects: Port Talbot and Cromarty Firth. However, if these are “rejected from the process or do not proceed”, then funding will go ahead for the Scapa Flow quay.
Orkney Islands Council says that discussions will now be held with the UK Government and other potential funders on the next steps.
The council is currently taking two project options – a deep-water quay at Scapa and a logistics base at Hatston – through the planning process, as well as continuing work on a final business case around Orkney’s offer to the offshore wind industry.
OIC chief executive Oliver Reid, commenting on the funding news, said: “Being placed on the reserve list for this fund is the most realistic and favourable outcome for us at this point in the development of the project.
“In April last year, the council determined that three key things needed to happen before the projects could go ahead: they needed to achieve all relevant consents – including terrestrial and marine planning permissions; there needed to be suitable funding streams identified and an economic business case in place; and there needed to be a clear benefit for Orkney’s communities as well as for the council.
“With some of these aspects still being worked on – and no decision yet taken by elected members as to whether to go ahead with the project – effectively being placed on hold by the funders for now is the right place for us to be.
“This gives us space and time to work on those other aspects, and scope for further discussion with government on our requirements.”
Orkney Islands Council leader Heather Woodbridge said: “The fact that this project has been placed on the reserve list is encouraging and endorses the validity of the project in the wider context of offshore wind infrastructure in Scotland.”