The consortium behind the Forth Green Freeport project in Scotland, which submitted a bid for the development to the UK and Scottish governments in June, released details for the major enhancement of the Rosyth port and waterfront areas within Fife that would support the offshore wind industry.
The development of nearly 150 hectares of land across Babcock International, Forth Ports Group, and Scarborough Muir Group’s sites within Rosyth and Burntisland has the potential to deliver GBP 1 billion (approx. EUR 1.14 billion) of investment and an estimated 7,000 new direct green jobs.
This is assuming the project receives approval next year.
Ronnie Muir , Director of Scarborough Muir Group, said: “Scotland is on the cusp of a green revolution, with offshore wind providing the catalyst for new, high-quality manufacturing and engineering employment along the Firth energy coast”.
The new employment at Rosyth and Burntisland will build upon the existing business supply chain and sector expertise and will help drive regeneration of Mid Fife and beyond, with each port job estimated to be 50 per cent more productive and 40 per cent better paid than the average wage, according to the consortium.
The newly created jobs would mainly serve activity such as shipping logistics, advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding, in addition to the assembly of offshore wind and low carbon energy generation.
This will aim to deliver sustainable, inclusive economic growth along the Firth of Forth. It is a corridor with proven skilled labour markets, business expertise and identified sites, including those at Rosyth, Burntisland and Energy Park Fife in Methil, the Forth Green Freeport partners said.
Job growth at Rosyth will generate employment and supply chain opportunities beyond the Fife Council area to City of Edinburgh and Falkirk Council areas respectively. It is expected that Burntisland will be a sister port facility to the newly created Renewables Hub at the Port of Leith, providing further deep water access and local supply chain capability as offshore wind deployment accelerates, with energy and low carbon growth creating new employment opportunities.
The Forth Green Freeport partners also said developments at the Port of Rosyth would enhance Scotland’s international connectivity and export capacity through a brand new freight hub, and that the bid submitted this Summer includes specific tax and customs sites within Fife at Rosyth and Burntisland, respectively.
Charles Hammond OBE , CEO of Forth Ports Group, said: “Scotland needs to boost its international connectivity and our plan for new freight hub and rail terminals will offer manufacturers and shippers a fast-track route to global and European markets directly via the North Sea.”.
Other identified locations and infrastructure across South West Fife and Mid Fife are also set to benefit and form a key part of the Forth Green Freeport bid.
The bid, which seeks to re-industrialise Scotland and create a world-class manufacturing cluster, has the potential to generate 50,000 new green jobs across Scotland and act as a catalyst for new green technologies and renewable energy manufacturing, unlocking GBP 6 billion (approx. EUR 6.85 billion) of private and public investment.
David Lockwood , CEO Babcock International Group PLC, said: “The Green Freeport would enhance the multi-million pound investment in infrastructure, digitisation and skills at Babcock’s Rosyth facilities over the last decade and underpin our large-scale manufacturing capabilities”.