The developers behind Moray FLOW-Park have secured more funding after receiving a share of £13 million from the Crown Estate.
Tim Eagle MSP described the award of more money to Offshore Solutions Group as “baffling” and “very distressing” for communities along the Moray Firth.
The funding, between £250,000 and £1.5m, has been awarded through the Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator programme to support the construction, assembly, manufacturing, operation and maintenance of fixed and floating offshore wind.
Crown Estate said the funding for OSG would “scale up exciting projects in the fixed and floating offshore wind supply chain”.
The announcement comes just weeks after Scottish Enterprise granted Offshore Solutions Group (OSG) £1.8m to develop the plans to build floating platforms along the Moray Firth.
Buckie-based MSP and Scottish Conservative fishing spokesman Tim Eagle, who held a public meeting against the proposals, said:
“So soon after Scottish Enterprise’s funding award to OSG came to light, this announcement is deeply concerning.
“I have immediately contacted the Crown Estate to find out how much of this £13m pot has been given to OSG and what it will be used for.
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“Given the widespread concern around OSG’s plans for Moray FLOW-Park, the award of this funding is very distressing for communities, and quite frankly baffling.
“These funding agreements behind closed doors heightens fears that proposals like Moray FLOW-Park have already been given the green light ahead of any public consultation taking place.
“Our communities must be given a voice on developments like these, which is why I have sought urgent answers from the Crown Estate on what this funding will mean for Moray FLOW-Park.”
