Infrastructure
Both Hatston (Kirkwall) and Lyness (Hoy) are now designated enterprise areas, ie, identified locations set up by the Scottish Government in order to stimulate manufacturing opportunities as well as investment and job creation. In support of the development of the marine renewables sector, a number of infrastructure developments are underway at both Hatston Pier and Lyness Pier, and also at Coplands Dock in Stromness.
Details of new purpose built units for the energy sector in the Hatston enterprise area can be found here.
Click here for a brochure with further details about Orkney's enterprise areas.
Completion of the work at Hatston Pier is expected in early 2013. The expansion will provide additional berthing and working areas for the marine renewables industry where deployment of devices requires heavy lifting equipment and substantial support vessels. The extension will provide a total of 385m of quay edge with 10m draft at all tides.
The shoreside development will provide:
- a designated enterprise area of 10 hectares
- an ideal service base for north of Orkney tidal energy sites
- large areas of potential hard standing and warehousing
- office facilities for developers and associated businesses
- close proximity to service deployment areas
- service industries close to developers within Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall
Lyness Pier has been refurbished as a centre for the assembly, storage and servicing of marine renewable energy devices. Lyness is ideally located to offer an excellent base for R&D and deployment activities for these. The pier has been refaced and fendered giving 265 m of safe and sheltered mooring, and 4,000sq m of hard standing has been laid to assist with assembly and maintenance of marine renewables devices.
Future plans are to provide steel framed buidings, secure compounds and office and communication facilities as the site and the industry develop.
Pier and shoreside development will provide:
- 260m of refurbished quay edge with up to 10m at LAT
- an ideal location for device assembly, maintenance and storage for Pentland Firth and West of Orkney
- designated enterprise areas of 7 hectares within 22 hectares of development land
- national logistics and support company on site
A number of companies are already making use of the excellent new facilities, and with designated zoning approved for shoreside development there is ample room for expansion as the marine renewables industry develops.
The existing piers in Stromness are sufficient to serve the needs of fishing boats, a lifeline ferry service, dive charter boats and a recreational marina. However, to best serve the marine renewables sector, a new pier has been identified as an essential infrastructure requirement. After considerable work to identify the best location for this new facility, construction work on Copland's Dock will therefore start in Autumn 2012 and is expected to be complete in late 2013.
The new development will provide:
- new 100m long pier with 6m draft at all tides
- adjacent 10 hectares of potential development land for storage and supply chain support
- ideal facilities for marine renewables support and fishing vessels
- improved handling facilities for the fishing fleet with better shoreside access to processing plants
- better access for heavy industry and road transport
Stromness is an important tourist destination with its historic and picturesque seafront. The inevitable heavy industry associated with marine renewables would not enhance the harbour front and the need to reduce this activity and its impact on the town centre has been a major factor in locating the new pier.
For leasing availability please see here.