Clyde processing plant plan among ‘several options’ for salmon farmer
Building a new salmon processing plant at a waterfront site in Inverclyde in the Glasgow City Region is just one of several options being looked at by the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC), it has told Fish Farming Expert.
SSC’s interest in siting a new regional HQ, processing plant and R&D and training facility at Inchgreen on the south side of the River Clyde between Port Glasgow and Greenock is included in an outline business case for the redevelopment of the vacant brownfield site.
Inverclyde Council and majority landowner Clydeport Operations Limited (COL) are seeking £9.47 million from the Glasgow City Deal to make the site suitable for re-use. That includes £1.5m to prepare the ground and foundations for a 12,100m² facility that would cost SSC £35m to build and fit out.
‘Stated and defined interest’
A report on the project for the Glasgow City Region City Deal Cabinet puts SSC at the top of list of “live inquiries with stated and defined interest in a market-ready serviced Inchgreen site”.
However, a spokesperson for Faroese-owned SSC, which is Scotland’s second-largest salmon farmer, said: “Like any business we are constantly reviewing potential long-term opportunities to develop and grow our company.
“A presence at the Inchgreen site is one of several potential options we are in the early stages of investigating as part of our development plans, but no commitments have been made.”
Good connections
The Inchgreen site has several attributes that could make it attractive to fish farmers. It has access for wellboats, and the Port Glasgow Road (A8) runs along the southern boundary of the site, connecting to the M8, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow city centre and the wider Central Belt. Inchgreen is less than a hour by road from the DFDS international distribution hub at Larkhall.
The site is also just 150 metres from a railway station and has a large potential workforce.
“Investment will deliver sustainable social and economic benefits across the region and specifically within disadvantage communities in Greenock and Port Glasgow that suffer high levels of deprivation and limited employment opportunities,” said the report.
Earlier this week the City Deal Cabinet approved the outline business case and granted Inverclyde Council £80,000 to develop a full business case for the redevelopment.
The full business case is expected to be approved by Q4 2021, with work on the site beginning in the first half of 2022 and completion and handover taking place in Q1 2023.
