Highlands and Islands Enterprise has announced it will invest up to £24 million pounds at Kishorn Port with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations with the potential to support up to 1,500 jobs when the port is fully developed.
The port already houses one of the largest openings of any dry dock facility in Europe, making it a strategic location for offshore wind components marshalling and manufacturing. Total investment in the project, including private investment is £42.2 million pounds. It will support 84 jobs for up to 18 months during its construction phase, with the principal contractor for construction being Highland-based R J MacLeod.
A government statement noted that strong expressions of interest to use the enlarged dry dock for offshore floating wind and decommissioning projects have already been received by the port.
Alterations have been proposed to SSEN’s Marine Licence for the construction of a sub-sea cable through the Minch and Little Loch Broom with landfall proposed at Dundonnell. The cable will service a large off-shore windfarm to be built on the western side of Lewis and run through the Wester Ross Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area then across country, underground, for approximately 80 kilometres from Dundonnell to Beauly.
The construction phase currently proposed will involve deep drilling with underwater cranes causing implications for all salmonid species and feather star aggregations. A meeting to provide full information on the amended proposals will be held at the Dundonnell Hotel next Tuesday 10th June from 12.30 till 3.30pm to which all interested parties are invited to attend.
Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories, Investing in Local People and More Than, both part of the Rural Community Business Awards 2025.
GALE’s managing director commented that to be a finalist in two categories is an affirmation of the team’s hard work and dedication while one of the event hosts said that it was inspiring to see so many people nominate their local community owned businesses emphasising the significant role they play in their communities. Winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on Thursday 3rd July.
