Hubs for two offshore wind turbines which were put together at the yard

The designation will be sought from within the National Planning Framework.

Attempts to resurrect the yard for renewable energy engineering have been frustrated by a disagreement between the yard's joint owners.

The council's planning chairman Drew Hendry said the designation would help resolve the issue.

Break deadlock

The local authority is preparing a compulsory purchase order in an attempt to take control of the yard.

However, while working on a CPO local authority officials are continuing talks with Nigg's owners in a bid to break deadlock over the yard's sale.

It cannot go ahead until the lease of the land is resolved.

A master plan for the site will also be drawn up and a company sought to take it over once a CPO is granted.