This backing, in addition, to the support from organisations such as the STUC, CBI and SCDI, as well as local groups such as the Western Isles Council and Stornoway Trust, shows the breadth of support for the project both locally and nationally, say Lewis Wind Power.

They state: "The Lewis Wind Farm will lead to the employment of over 400 people in the Outer Hebrides during the construction stage and more than 70 further jobs created for the 20 year operational lifetime of the wind farm.

"That is on top of the £5m or so of annual rent and crofter payments as well as the returns from the community ownership stake, which if invested effectively in local enterprise, could lead to a further 150 jobs being created during the wind farm's life."

They added: "For the Arnish Yard, we believe that the approval of the LWP project would present a once in a generation opportunity, providing the necessary investment to make Arnish a global leader in its field and attract further large orders in the future."