Vestas plan to open new wind turbine factory with 500 jobs

Leith's MP and MSP have welcomed an announcement by wind turbine manufacturer Vestas that it plans to open a factory in Scotland with 500 skilled jobs.

- by Ian Swanson

Leith is the likely location of the new turbine factory, which would represent an investment of 250 million euros or around £216m; inset, Ben Macpherson

(Ben Macpherson)

Although not named in the announcement, Leith is seen as the likely location of the new factory, which would represent an investment of 250 million euros or around £216m.

Vestas submitted a Proposal of Application Notice to the city council in 2024 for a new factory to the east of Leith's Imperial Dock.

The Danish company's latest announcement said the new factory would meet growing demand for offshore wind in the UK and Europe. And in addition to creating 500 direct jobs, it would support further indirect jobs in the wider economy and underpin a supply chain critical to meeting the UK's clean power targets and energy security.