Eyemouth Harbour Trust has secured a £1.4 million award from The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator towards delivery of the technical work required for the next stage of its proposed £250 million deep water expansion.
The funding, which under the terms of the award provide up to 50% of total costs and requires to be match funded, will deliver the Full Business Case, Environmental Impact Assessment and Site Investigation required to move the project towards investment-ready stage. This phase will establish the engineering, environmental and financial detail needed to confirm feasibility.
The Environmental Impact Assessment will analyse for example visual impact, noise, light, and effects on the marine environment. The Site Investigation will include borehole drilling to define seabed conditions and inform construction design and cost, and the Full Business Case will bring these findings together to support future investment decisions and validate overall project value.
The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator is a £50 million fund, established in 2024 to support the development of offshore wind supply chain capacity. The programme provides early-stage support to port and supply chain projects and has funded work across fixed and floating offshore wind, including manufacturing, fabrication and port infrastructure.
The harbour extension is central to the Harbour Masterplan, launched in August 2025. The Masterplan sets out the proposal for a deep-water facility to support offshore wind activity and wider marine uses. Current plans include around two hectares of laydown space, approximately 700 metres of quay and berthing, water depth of 10 metres below chart datum and a heavy lift area with a capacity of 20 tonnes per square metre.
Offshore wind is identified as a substantial driver of future activity. Eyemouth already hosts the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) operations and maintenance base, which is expected to support around 50 full time equivalent roles over its 25-year lifespan together with supply chain work.
The harbour expansion could potentially support further construction and operations and maintenance activity for major offshore wind projects near to Eyemouth, including the 4.1GW Berwick Bank project, as well as Ossian (3.6GW), Morven (2.9GW) and Bell Rock (1.8GW), alongside wider opportunities within The Crown Estate’s UK8N area of opportunity south of the border. Early estimates indicate that around a further 200 full time equivalent roles could be created locally, contributing around £20 million each year to the local economy.
The Masterplan was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, including with harbour users, community organisations, South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish Borders Council. Engagement will continue as feasibility work progresses.
“Securing this award from The Crown Estate Supply Chain Accelerator marks a significant step for Eyemouth Harbour Trust and a clear endorsement of the Masterplan,” Christine Bell, Chief Executive at Eyemouth Harbour Trust, said. “This takes the project into detailed design, with the full business case, environmental assessment and site investigations providing the technical evidence required to progress a £250 million expansion.
“Delivering the masterplan is about putting in place the infrastructure that will position Eyemouth as a key player in the offshore wind and maritime supply chain, while supporting local employment and strengthening the harbour’s role in driving the regional economy.”
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