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A port in north Wales has unveiled plans to construct the next generation of floating offshore wind farms which could create more than 100 new jobs. The Port of Mostyn has announced development plans for a new manufacturing facility at its site in Holywell which would make concrete gravity bases and steel structures for offshore wind turbines.

The port said it is launching a consultation programme ahead of submitting a planning application to Flintshire County Council for a change of use to set up a manufacturing plant on site. If plans are approved, the port said the development, which would also include new modular offices and workshops, would take around 21 months to be constructed and create around 130 new jobs.

Managing director Jim O’Toole said: “Potentially, having a manufacturing facility here would be a very significant development for the Port of Mostyn as well as being great news for the wider regional economy. As part of the planning process, we are conducting a 28-day consultation prior to applying for permission to Flintshire County Council.”

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He added: “The new infrastructure will be multi-purpose to enable fabrication and assembly of both fixed foundation and floating turbines. Primarily, it’s for floating offshore wind turbines, which is a new concept to meet the growing demand for renewable energy.

“The concrete gravity bases will be manufactured at the port using materials supplied by local companies with local workforces. The turbine components will also be imported for final assembly at Mostyn and then taken offshore to be integrated with the foundations. The current energy crisis is concentrating minds and has underlined the urgent need to increase our capacity.”

Mr O’Toole said the port had also applied to Natural Resources Wales for a marine licence to create new deep water berths to facilitate the development. “The work will include creating an additional 5.2 hectares of land adjacent to the berths for the storage and assembly of turbine components prior to being shipped to the windfarm’s offshore location,” he said.

Dredging work would also be needed to create a new quay for ships, while deepening existing berths, with the approach channel being re-dredged.

“The purpose of the new, larger quays is to facilitate the larger, heavier turbines for the new generation of turbines,” he said, adding: “The construction of the new berths and the associated works would create more than 130 new jobs.”

The port was the birthplace of offshore wind energy in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ two decades ago, with the first two wind farms, North Hoyle off the coast of North Wales and Robin Rigg in the Solway Firth, built there. Since then the port has been involved in the construction of a further seven offshore wind farm projects.

“We are proud of the part we have played in the history of developing offshore renewable energy and we are keen to have a key role in securing the future of this important industry,” said Mr O’Toole.