Scotland’s port of Cromarty Firth has been granted the marine and dredge licences for its GBP111 million (USD149.5 million) Phase 5 expansion.
Scottish ministers formally granted consent for the construction of a new 400 m quay extension – including associated dredging and land reclamation. The port said the approval brings it one step closer to delivering the UK’s first purpose-built floating offshore wind turbine integration and assembly facility. Consent for the project arrived just six months after the port submitted its marine and dredging applications to the Scottish Government in January 2025.
“Securing these consents marks a major milestone in our journey to position the Cromarty Firth – and Scotland – as a leading hub for the deployment of floating offshore wind,” said Alex Campbell, the port’s chief executive. “Achieving this consent so quickly reflects the strength of our environmental assessments, the quality of our engagement and the clear national importance of this infrastructure.”
Once complete, it will provide the larger facilities needed for the construction, installation and operational support to both traditional offshore wind energy projects as well as floating developments.
HLPFI reported in March that the UK government would support the development with GBP55 million (USD71 million) in funding. The extension was scheduled to come online in 2028.
