Green Freeports

The Scottish Government is working in partnership with the UK Government to deliver two Green Freeports in Scotland, in Inverness and Cromarty Firth and on the Firth of Forth.

Green Freeports aim to:

  • boost innovation
  • support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid new jobs while supporting Fair Work First practices
  • promote growth and regeneration
  • make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions

Background

A Green Freeport is a large, zoned area which includes a railway, seaport or airport. Businesses in the zone can benefit from a package of devolved and reserved tax and other incentives.

Green Freeports are public private coalitions with key partners including:

  • local authorities
  • businesses
  • port and airport operators
  • universities and colleges
  • other private sector partners

Objectives

Green Freeports must support four key policy objectives:

  • promoting regeneration and high-quality job creation – our lead policy objective
  • promoting decarbonisation and a just transition to a net zero economy
  • establishing hubs for global trade and investment
  • fostering an innovative environment

Read more about the objectives and incentives in the Green Freeports bidding prospectus.

Bidding phase and selection of Green Freeport locations

On 13 January 2023, the Scottish Government and the UK Government jointly announced the selection of two Green Freeports in Scotland:

  • Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport
  • Forth Green Freeport

These locations were chosen through an open, transparent and competitive process. A summary note about the decision making process has been published.

Setup phase and business case development

We are working closely with the selected Green Freeports to ensure they deliver maximum positive impact and become operational as soon as possible.

Green Freeports have to submit an Outline Business Case (OBC) and a Full Business Case (FBC) to the Scottish and UK Government for approval in order to become fully operational. These are detailed plans that show how the Green Freeports will operate and meet its goals. Both OBC and FBC are subject to clear published requirements.  

Seed capital funding becomes available following FBC approval and signing of a memorandum of understanding with government.  

Tax and customs sites are designated in parallel with business case appraisal and approval.

The UK Government has published maps of the Green Freeports’ outer boundaries and designated tax and custom sites:

Delivery phase and implementation

Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) aims to create 18,300 jobs for the UK. Of which 11,300 would be located in the Highlands. It aims to attract nearly £6.5 billion in investment, with more than £3.5 billion forecast within the first five years (by 2029). This investment will focus on key development areas within the designated tax sites.

The Green Freeport will focus in particular on:

  • the renewable and low-carbon energy industries, such as offshore wind and green hydrogen
  • advanced manufacturing
  • maritime technologies

These industries will play a key role in helping the transition to a net zero economy.

ICFGF locations

The ICFGF outer boundary includes the following ports:

  • Inverness
  • Cromarty Firth
  • Ardersier
  • Nigg

Its tax sites are located at:

  • Cromarty
  • Ardersier
  • Inverness

Forth Green Freeport

Forth Green Freeport (FGF) aims to attract up to £7.9 billion in public and private investment over a ten-year period, running through to 2034.  It aims to create 34,500 jobs across the UK, including:

  • 16,000 direct jobs on designated tax sites
  • 18,500 indirect jobs supported through supply chains and wages

Forth Green Freeport will focus on seven priority clusters which include:

  • offshore wind (manufacturing and marshalling)
  • alternative fuels
  • modular manufacturing
  • shipbuilding
  • creative industries

FGF locations

The FGF outer boundary includes the ports at:

  • Rosyth
  • Burntisland in Fife
  • Grangemouth
  • Leith

Its tax sites are located at:

  • Rosyth
  • Grangemouth
  • Mid-Forth (Leith and Burntisland)

Learn more about each Green Freeport:

Other links and documents

Correspondence between Scottish Government and UK Government

The Green Freeports joint working agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments is set out in an exchange of letters. We have published the following letters:

Contact information

For general enquiries, email the Scottish Government’s Green Freeports team at GreenFreeports@gov.scot

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