Moray FLOW Park scoping opinion statement from Moray Council
Moray Council has responded to the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate consultation on what should be covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed Moray FLOW-Park.
At this stage, the Council is not being asked whether it supports or objects to the development. Our response is focused on making sure that, should the proposal progress, the potential impacts relevant only to the Council’s responsibilities are properly assessed and covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment.
In particular, we’ve asked for the assessment of landscape and visual impacts to consider additional viewpoints, including the shoreline/beach at Roseisle Country Park, and potentially Nelson’s Tower in Forres and Quarrywood Hill. We’ve also requested that existing wind turbines should be considered as part of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, and have asked for further justification on why noise impacts on communities onshore have been excluded from the assessment.
We recognise the strength of local interest in this proposal and will continue to consider any matters that fall within the Council’s remit carefully and objectively as the process progresses.
The Council’s response does not indicate support for, or opposition to, the proposed development. If a Marine Licence application is submitted, the Council will consider and respond to the detailed proposals.
The Council’s full consultation response is available on its planning portal under reference 26/01050/MARLIC. The Marine Directorate will issue the EIA Scoping Opinion to the developer.
We also note that Moray FLOW-Park has sought a six month extension to their exclusivity agreement from Crown Estate Scotland from September 2026. This is the second and last extension they can seek in terms of their existing agreement.