THE rebirth of a former fabrication yard as a major manufacturing port for the offshore wind industry may be delayed or obstructed because of environmental concerns.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is objecting to the planning application which has been submitted to Highland Council, Marine Scotland and Transport Scotland to transform the 340-acre Ardersier site between Inverness and Nairn.
The application, if passed, means thousands of jobs could be created from early next year.
However SNH said: "In our view this proposal raises natural heritage issues of national importance relating to nationally and internationally important designated sites."
These include the Inner Moray Firth Special Protection Area and the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation.
SNH is particularly concerned by the impact of the planned dredging, due to start later this year, and construction work on the Moray Firth's bottlenose dolphins, birds, seals and sandbanks.
The agency says it is keen to work with the developers and authorities, and that some of the issues raised could be addressed with changes or mitigation measures. However more information was needed on other issues and SNH would object until it was obtained.
An SNH spokesman said that while the developers had done good work on assessing the implications for dolphins, "we feel a number of issues need further discussion and we are working with the developers on those."
He said SNH remained committed to helping to meet both the needs of local development and those of marine species and habitats.
"We have a holding objection relating to the major dredging and disposal operation which requires further consideration by the developer."
Alastair Wood, planning adviser to developers, the Port of Ardersier, said: "We have long recognised the potential sensitivity of this site and have been in dialogue with SNH for over a year to identify all the measures necessary to mitigate any potential impacts and ensure the designated areas are either not affected or are improved.
"We are continuing to work positively with SNH to ensure the site's potential is fully realised, and remain confident a solution will be found.
"We are pleased no other statutory bodies have raised any concerns and the proposal enjoys good support locally."
The site, 15 miles east of Inverness, once housed the McDermott yard which employed more than 3000 at its peak building oil rigs in the 1970s. Its closure was announced in 2002.
In 2006, planners gave their provisional and conditional agreement for the outline proposals for a housing and leisure complex on the site.
But with the Scottish Government's National Renewables Infrastructure Plan including the site as one of 11 possible manufacturing sites for the offshore green energy industry, the businessmen who own the site, changed their strategy.
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