The deep sea port at Hunterston could be used to build equipment for offshore renewables and for decommissioning oil and gas platforms.

That’s the view of North Ayrshire Council who have put forward options for developing marine tourism and employment at the site in response to a consultation exercise by the Scottish Government.

It follows a new coastal masterplan which has identified Hunterston as an “energy hub for renewables”.

Future investment in the area will be centred on the seas around it as much as on the land within it, according to the report prepared for the National Marine Plan.

Local authorities were asked for their views on the plan which has been produced by Marine Scotland, a new national organisation responsible for promoting the seas through a series of regional strategies.

One of the objectives is to ensure that any new shoreline development takes into account the visuals attached to both land and sea.

North Ayrshire Council have asked that the marine plan takes into account a proposal to establish an energy hub at Hunterston.

The council believes the site has potential for energy related uses like the manufacture and assembly of equipment for offshore renewables, and the decommissioning of oil and gas platforms. Details of the Hunterston scheme have already gone to the Scottish Government.

At present, a new 200m high turbine is to be built for Mitsubishi at the test facility for offshore facilities at Hunterston, after the first turbine was erected last month at the former platform construction yard.

To support the proposals, North Ayrshire’s submission lists the area’s sea-linked attributes, including the fact that it is home to one of Scotland’s biggest marinas, the Scottish Sailing Institute at Largs and the National Watersports Centre at Cumbrae.

The response adds that marine leisure and recreation tourism, specifically sailing and watersports, are important to an area which has a wide stretch of coastline and two islands with lifeline ferry services to the mainland.

The Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council have approved the formal response to Marine Scotland.

Councillor John Bruce, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “It is important that we participate fully in the consultation so that our interests are properly considered in the context of the new marine planning regime.”