Montrose Port Authority (MPA) is set to embark on a major expansion of its offshore wind infrastructure with the acquisition of two new sites.
This acquisition and development take the port’s footprint from 59 acres to 104 and will strengthen Montrose Port’s position as a key player in the renewable energy sector, MPA said.
The acquisition of Montrose Commercial Park and the adjacent former Charleton Maternity Home site is a key element of MPA’s ongoing masterplanning initiative, aimed at meeting the growing demand for industrial space to support Scotland’s offshore energy sector.
The purchase from Equipco Investments encompasses 45 acres of prime real estate, formerly home to Petrofac’s fire safety training facility and the now-demolished Charleton House which used to function as a maternity hospital.
MPA is exploring future development options for the site with Scottish Enterprise which recognises the significance of the proposals and the transformational impact from the future growth projects.
Scotland’s east coast is rapidly becoming a hub for the sector and MPA, in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise, is poised to provide the critical infrastructure needed to capitalise on this growing industry and generate substantial economic impacts.
Existing tenants of Montrose Commercial Park will continue their operations, with all their tenancy agreements being honoured, MPA said.
Montrose Port Authority chief executive Tom Hutchison said: “As a trust port, our mission is to drive sustainable growth that benefits our entire community.
“This landmark expansion amplifies our impact far beyond nearly doubling our footprint. We’re creating opportunities for new businesses, local jobs, and economic growth, while positioning Montrose at the forefront of Scotland’s energy transition.
“Our vision looks to the long term.
“We are laying the groundwork for future generations, ensuring Montrose remains pivotal in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. We’re proud to be a driving force for Scotland’s green energy future, catalysing growth and creating positive change that will resonate for decades to come.”
Suzanne Sosna, director of energy transition at Scottish Enterprise, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to further develop port related infrastructure at a strategic site as part of our national Energy Transition mission.
“We are exploring potential options for investment and promotion with MPA alongside the port masterplanning which together will generate significant additional economic impacts for Scotland.”
The new initiative will complement Montrose’s growing position as one of the world’s leading operations & maintenance (O&M) hubs for offshore wind.
Montrose is the O&M base for Seagreen, Scotland’s largest operational offshore wind farm, and the upcoming Inch Cape offshore wind project.
Once Inch Cape is fully operational, Montrose Port is expected to support 2.5GW of offshore wind capacity.