COCKENZIE should be considered for the headquarters of the Scottish Government’s new state-owned energy company as part of the redevelopment of the former Cockenzie Power Station site, according to a new proposal.

Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council is preparing to publish a document outlining its views for the future use of the site, which supports the vision put forward in a masterplan produced following public consultation.

And it takes the masterplan a stage further with more detailed ideas for each of the zones proposed in its vision, including calling for the Scottish Government to be invited to base its HQ for its proposed state company on the site, as well as suggesting offshore windfarm company Inch Cape – which wants to place a substation on the land to bring energy ashore from proposed turbines – should also be encouraged to put its Scottish base there.

The community council document comes in the wake of a brochure produced by neighbouring Prestonpans Community Council promoting its vision of a Port of Prestonpans cruise terminal at the former power station site.

That proposal sparked anger among supporters of the masterplan vision, who accused the Prestonpans group of ignoring the views of the local communities.

It led to the launch of ‘Greenhills: delivering the Masterplan’, a campaign by local groups and businesses backing the consultation document.

Now Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council has drawn up a draft brochure which sets out why it supports the plans and proposes a range of detailed ways it could be taken forward.

That includes putting head offices for Inch Cape and the Scottish Government energy interests in one part of the site, identified as its ‘Energy Quarter’.

It also floats the idea of flooding the power station footprint to create a marina – as suggested by a local fisherman – with associated retail and leisure facilities, attracting businesses such as a film studio or 3D printing innovation to the site, or even creating a brewery.

Graeme Jeffrey, community council chairman, said: “As a community council we are promoting our vision of what we would like to see. It supports the masterplan, looking at how it could be delivered.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have set out our ambitions for a public energy company and its contribution towards tackling fuel poverty.

“We will be consulting on proposals later in the year and will make sure that Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council have an opportunity to provide their views.”