Forth turbines could put the wind back in Leith's sails

Plans to build an offshore windfarm in the Firth of Forth that could create 700 jobs in Leith have been welcomed by politicians and locals.

The plans come as Leith has been named in February’s National Renewables Infrastructure report as the prime location for Scotland to develop its offshore wind industry.

Mark Lazarowicz, Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, told The Journal that he is enthusiastic about the Leith project.

Mr Lazarowicz said he “would like to see the City Council, Scottish and UK government, through Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian, local business and the local community, developing a plan to ensure that we do reap the full potential of these developments”.

The public are also broadly in favour, with the 2003 Public Attitudes to Windfarms report commissioned by the Scottish Executive showing that over 50 percent of those who lived close to a windfarm would support an expansion by half the number of turbines again, with only one in 10 opposed.

Estimates indicate that the Leith project will cost £7 billion, with a total expected capital expenditure for Scottish offshore wind projects of between £15 billion and £18 billion over the next 10 years.

A spokesperson from Scottish Enterprise told The Journal: "Leith can draw on a strong labour market although there will be a need to develop Scotland's supply of skilled labour for this industry.”

Construction of the Leith windfarm is due to begin in 2015.