Fish farming company Marine Harvest’s development on the site of an old quarry at Kyleakin could create 55 full-time permanent jobs.

The plant will produce food for the firm’s Scottish fish farms as well as those in Norway, Ireland and the Faroe Islands.

Marine Harvest hopes the new plant will be constructed by 2018.

The cost of the project is expected to run to £93m. It had previously been estimated at £80m.

Ben Hadfield, the company’s chief operating officer feed and managing director, said: “We will do our utmost now to ensure that this large construction project is managed in a sensitive way.

“This provides a modern platform for us to further enhance the sustainability of the salmon farming sector.”

Members of Highland Council’s north planning committee voted through the plans by 13 votes to three.