Ardersier Port gets £100m loan from government-backed banks

The work is one of the largest industrial regeneration projects in the Highlands in decades.

First Minister John Swinney said the development would help deliver a “fairer, greener future for everyone”.

He said: “Scotland’s growing offshore wind capabilities present an era-defining opportunity – not only to achieve a just transition to net zero, but to harness the skills which lie across our energy sector and wider supply chain to create thousands of green jobs and transform our regional and national economies.

“The Ardersier Port redevelopment, which is central to the ambitions of the ground-breaking Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, exemplifies this opportunity.”

Andrew Bowie, UK government minister for nuclear and renewables, described Scotland as a “pioneer” in offshore wind technology.

“The UK has a record on offshore wind it can be truly proud of, with the most installed capacity in Europe and home to the five largest operational windfarms off our shores,” he said.