At the Full Council meeting on 25 February 2026, councillors approved progressing the preferred option for a northern expansion of the harbour. This follows a socio-economic assessment and public consultation, both of which identified the northern option as offering the strongest long-term benefits for Buckie and the wider Moray area.

The northern expansion would create more quayside space, deeper berths and significantly larger laydown areas, making the harbour better equipped to support emerging industries. This includes offshore wind, marine engineering and future hydrogen opportunities, while continuing to serve existing users.

To keep the project on track, councillors also agreed to allocate £182,850 from the council’s Transformation Reserve. This funding will provide a dedicated project manager and some key elements of the detailed design work needed before the Outline Business Case can be commissioned.

External funding and investment will still be required to deliver the full project, and Buckie Harbour is included in a regional bid to the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund.

The development phase of the Masterplan is expected to take around eight years. Ensuring timely progress will help position Buckie to attract investment and respond to predicted market growth in the mid 2030s.

Moray Council leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, welcomed the decision: “Buckie Harbour is a major economic asset for Moray, and today’s decision moves us a step closer to ensuring it can meet future demand. The northern expansion offers the best long-term value and unlocks real opportunities for our communities, from supporting offshore wind to creating new jobs and investment.

“By agreeing this early funding, we’re making sure the project stays on track while we continue to seek wider funding opportunities. This is an important moment for Buckie and for Moray’s future economy.”

Work to prepare the Outline Business Case will begin immediately, with progress reported to the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee in future.