A FEASIBILITY study on the viability of a proposed national climate centre is under way at the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station.
Planning Solutions Consulting Limited (PSC) has been commissioned to carry out the work by the community-led 360 Centre project.
The 360 Centre is intended to be a major attraction for East Lothian, with proposals for a significant art installation alongside a visitor centre, education and training facilities.
The 360 Centre team chose PSC – a consultancy providing research and development services to clients in the tourism field with a particular focus on visitor attractions – over some of the larger engineering consultancies which bid for the work because of their expertise in establishing and running visitor centres, giving them a wide understanding of the commercial challenges which will underpin the feasibility of the project.
Their proposal assembles a bespoke team including Duncan Bryden, an independent sustainable development specialist based in Scotland, and Hiraeth Architecture, which specialises in sites with innovation, craft, low-carbon and low-impact design.
A concept design for installation art on the site by Andrew Crummy, designer of the Great Scottish Tapestry. The figures, which would be similar in size to the Kelpies near Falkirk, represent the women of the fishing, mining and salt-making industries
Richard Linington, director at Planning Solutions Consulting Limited, said: “The former Cockenzie Power Station site provides a window into our past, which can be used to unpick and to tell the story of the rich social, cultural and economic history of East Lothian.
“With the power station now gone, the site offers a new window into our future through the 360 Centre with opportunities to create a sustainable direction for the site addressing the climate emergency.
“The regeneration of this unique brownfield site has the potential to add to the critical mass of sustainable tourism, education and community facilities within the region and nationally in Scotland.
“The public appetite for positive meaningful change is rapidly evolving and policy at national and local level is striving to keep pace.
“This project is being developed at an opportune time.”
'Partnership approach'
A spokesperson for the 360 Centre said: “The 360 Centre vision is based on a true partnership approach to the Cockenzie Power Station site – an approach which puts the community voice at the forefront while bringing in partnerships with site owners East Lothian Council, renewable energy companies based on the site, and universities and training providers who could use the facility to provide much-needed climate change-based training for industry and education for all sorts of organisations and groups.
“It is an innovative and ambitious project for the communities surrounding the site, and the 360 Centre team looks forward to the findings of the feasibility study.
“Thanks to everyone from our communities and further afield for support, ideas and offers of help so far.
“We are so delighted to see the project now moving to feasibility stage.”
The feasibility study funding was unanimously approved by East Lothian Council last November, with the tendering process completed last month.
The study is also sponsored by Inch Cape Offshore Limited and Seagreen 1A, the two offshore wind farms planning to build their onshore substations at the former Cockenzie Power Station site.
The 360 Centre is not the only proposal for the site – there are also hopes of siting a cruise terminal there.
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