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Not so bonny for Clyde as Inverness and Forth win Scottish freeports bid

[ January 13, 2023   //   ]

The Scottish and UK governments have selected the Forth Green Freeport and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport to become the country’s first Green Freeports.

The Forth Green Freeport consortium includes Forth Ports and its operations at sites at Leith, Grangemouth, Rosyth and Burntisland.

It says its proposal will generate up to 50,000 new jobs and act as a catalyst for new green technologies and renewable energy manufacturing. There will be £6 billion of private and public investment into industries including sustainable fuels, offshore wind manufacturing (including floating wind), shipbuilding, air transport and seaport fast-moving logistics.

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth bid in the north-east of the country aims to is aimed at the floating offshore wind manufacturing sector, with sites in the Cromarty Firth, Invergordon, Nigg, and Inverness. It expects to create up to 25,000 new jobs and attract £2.6 billion in inward investment. In addition to offshore wind manufacturing, it will focus on green hydrogen and creating a new innovation cluster.

However, the governments’ decision means that Scotland’s other major port region, the Clyde, will miss out on freeport status, at least for the time being. The Clyde Green Freeport had proposed an air, sea and rail economic zone based on Glasgow Airport, Peel Ports’ Clydeport – one of only two Scottish gateways with regular liner shipping services – and Mossend International Railfreight Park in North Lanarkshire.

Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports and lead Forth Green Freeport bid partner said: “Together with our consortium partners, our bid will re-industrialise the nation and create large scale economic development. This has the potential to unlock £6 billion of private and public investment for Scotland and create new training facilities, factories, logistics parks, rail, freight and fuel terminals and to enhance our creative industries.

“These new jobs will not just be in Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth, but in Glasgow and Edinburgh; the Lothians, Stirling and Falkirk; Dunfermline and Burntisland; and across the UK.”

The Forth Green Freeport consortium also includes Babcock; INEOS; Edinburgh Airport; Scarborough Muir Group; Falkirk Council; Fife Council; and The City of Edinburgh Council.

Its tax and customs sites span 550 hectares in Grangemouth, Leith, Rosyth, Burntisland and Edinburgh Airport.

The two winning bids will be supported by up to £52 million in start-up funding and will benefit from tax reliefs and other incentives through a combination of devolved and reserved powers.

Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney said: “This is a milestone achievement in the process to deliver Green Freeports for Scotland. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport will support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid new jobs, promote growth and regeneration, and make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions.  .

“A rigorous joint selection process has been followed. The successful applicants showed a strong determination to embed fair work practices, including payment of the Real Living Wage, and to enshrine net zero initiatives in their work.

“We look forward to working closely with them to ensure they deliver maximum positive impact and become operational as soon as possible.

“We will also work with the unsuccessful bidders to consider how they can build on the plans set out in their bids to deliver jobs and growth in their regions outside the Green Freeports programme.”

“Scotland has a rich history of innovation, trade and manufacturing and as we look to seize the many opportunities achieving net zero offers, the creation of these internationally competitive clusters of excellence will help us to create new green jobs, deliver a just transition and support our economic transformation.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove added: “Inverness and Cromarty Firth and the Firth of Forth are fantastic areas for these new Green Freeports to set up, ensuring the benefits are felt right across Scotland. This will help to create exciting new jobs, boost business and encourage investment in the local areas and beyond.”

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