UK: Rosyth Could House Offshore Wind Turbines Manufacturing

Scarborough Muir, a joint venture between Scarborough Group and Muir Group, plans to redevelop the former Rosyth naval base and turn it into offshore wind turbine manufacturing and servicing site.

According to The Herald Scotland, realization of this plan could attract GBP 500 million of investment and create 3,500 working positions.

The plan for a mixed development including housing and leisure was rejected by Fife Council two years ago, even though local communityhad approved it.

Now, the joint venture is gaining political support for this new project, as manufacturers of underwater turbine bases and turbine blades have shown their interest in its development.

“We are being supported by Fife Council and Scottish Enterprise in getting Rosyth and our landholdings on the renewables industry radar. The Fife energy park at Methil and the Forth Ports land at Leith are being filled up, Rosyth is the next large area of land,” said William McAllister, site project manager for Scarborough.

Scarborough Muir has been trying for 10 years to renew the Rosyth base and has already invested in cleaning up the site to prepare it for development.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, August 7, 2012; Image: Areva Wind