Leith chosen for wind turbine factory by Gamesa

The port of Leith has been chosen by Spanish company Gamesa for the site of a new wind turbine manufacturing plant.

The £125m investment could create more than 800 jobs directly and hundreds more in the supply chain.

The Edinburgh port was up against Hartlepool for the investment. Dundee had also been considered.

The new factory is expected to make the enormous blades for offshore wind turbines as well as the generator units that sit at the top of the turbine.

The decision is an important boost to the renewable energy industry, which has only one turbine-building site in Scotland - on Kintyre - and that has faced financial difficulties.

With most turbines being imported into Britain at a time of rapid expansion in the sector, the growth of manufacturing is seen as important to harnessing the economic benefits.

Offshore wind farms around Britain's coast could be the next growth area for the renewables industry.

Gamesa already has a research and development centre in Glasgow and an offshore wind HQ in London.

The wind turbine maker has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Forth Ports over the Leith plant.

The two will now work together in preparation for a longer term agreement.