A brand new fish factory is rising from the ashes of a processing plant destroyed in a huge blaze.
Northbay Pelagic has started building multimillion-pound premises at Peterhead after local authority planning chiefs cleared the way for the project.
The development was hailed last night as a huge boost for the port – and the wider Scottish fishing industry.
Landings of key species at Peterhead, including mackerel and herring, are expected to have slumped since the blaze at the Northbay factory in January.
The firm is one of Europe’s major processors of pelagic fish and employed 120 full-time and 100 temporary workers at the time of the fire.
It started when an electrical fault in a store room ignited foams and plastics and raged for more than 10 hours.
The firm’s processing plant, packaging line and offices were completely destroyed and people living near the Kirk Square factory in the heart of the own had to be evacuated from their homes.
At the height of the blaze, there were 10 fire appliances and dozens of firefighters from across the north-east on the scene.
In the aftermath of the incident other firms on the processing industry rallied round to help and some staff were seconded to work at other businesses.
Yesterday, as contractors worked on erecting the steel skeleton of Northbay’s new factory, industry leaders welcomed the development.
John Forman, the town’s harbour master, said having the plant operational again would be good for Peterhead.
“I haven’t had an update on what the procedure will be, but we are delighted to see them back up and running again,” he added.
“We haven’t had any information other than it has been approved, but it will be good for everyone in the port.”
Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “The whole process has gone quicker than we anticipated, from clearing the site to starting the building.
“I’m also led to believe that a lot of the machinery has already been ordered and is lying in storage.
“The main goal now is to get it up and ready in time for the mackerel season or late herring.
“It will be a welcome sight to see it back, because as far as fishermen are concerned the more markets we have the better.
“Absolutely, for sure, when the landing figures come out at the end of this year for Scotland you will see that pelagic landings will be well down because of the impact of this factory being down. It is in everyone’s interests to see it back.
“And one of the good things to come out of this will be that we will have a state-of-the-art factory with the finest equipment its owners have been able to get their hands on.”
No one at Northbay was available to comment yesterday.
The firm submitted plans to Aberdeenshire Council in March which outlined its proposals to rebuild on the same site.
They were approved by council officers when no objections were received.
A new central processing plant, a replacement office and administration block, an engineers’ workshop and chill rooms are all part of the redevelopment.
Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said last night: “It is welcome news that Northbay have been given the go-ahead to rebuild and that they are one step closer to being back on their feet.
“Northbay is a big employer and it is important for them and Peterhead that fish processing capacity is restored.”