Bakkafrost’s Hunterston project passes planning hurdle
Bakkafrost’s planning application for a post-smolt facility near the former nuclear power plant at Hunterston has been approved by the local planning committee.
Hunterston, on the west coast, is one of Scotland’s largest deep water ports and formerly imported coal for power stations, but it is now a derelict brownfield site that has been earmarked for development as Hunterston PARC by its owners, Peel Ports Group.
The Hunterston B nuclear power station was shut down in January 2022 and all spent fuel has now been removed.
Bakkafrost’s application is for a RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) facility, which will be used to grow salmon smolts to a larger size before they are released into pens at sea. The strategy means smolts will be larger and more robust when they enter the marine environment, and should lead to improved survival rates.
The company is already building a similar RAS facility at Applecross, also on the west coast.
The proposed site at Hunterston covers an area of approximately 6.75 hectares, including an existing access road from the south and a route connecting the main part of the site to a jetty to the north-west.
Buildings at the plant will take up around 12,090 square metres and range in height from approximately 10.8m to 12.4m. There will also be an administrative and education centre, as well as various storage areas for water, oxygen and other materials.
The proposals were first aired at a series of public consultation meetings in February 2023. The application was approved earlier this week by the North Ayrshire planning committee
Local newspaper the Largs & Millport Weekly News quoted Chief Planning Officer Allan Finlayson, who said: "It is considered that the proposed RAS complex is an appropriate industrial use.
“The land has a lawful use for general industry. The proposal would support the repurposing of the Hunterston Construction Yard.
“The applicant has provided information to suggest the economic benefits to the local economy through construction and operation.”
A spokesperson for Bakkafrost said the company would be officially commenting once the committee’s decision had been confirmed in writing.
For more on RAS farming see the Land Based Farming & Hatcheries Sector Focus on this website.
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