Ayrshire is renowned for its stunning coastline, sparkling scenery, beautiful beaches and world-class golf courses.
It has incredible natural resources, a rich industrial heritage and accessible transport links to the whole of the UK. And now, thanks to the Ayrshire Growth Deal, there is the chance to maximise the potential of the area.
On 8 March 2019, the heads of terms on the Deal were signed, confirming a bumper £251 million worth of investment over the next 10-15 years.
“It’s absolutely massive for Ayrshire,” says Sharon Hodgson, Head of the Ayrshire Growth Deal Programme team.
She adds: “We’ve been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s up to us now to make the most of it. We have to get this right. If we do, it will have an incredible impact on this and future generations.”
Under the terms of the new Growth Deal, the UK and Scottish Governments will each invest £103 million. This will be supported by South, East and North Ayrshire Councils who will contribute upwards of £45.5m between them.
The deal should create approximately 7000 jobs across a wide range of sectors. The investment will be delivered over a 15-year period and should also unlock £300m of private investment.
Sharon adds: “We all share a vision for Ayrshire to be increasingly vibrant, outward looking, confident, attractive to investors and visitors, and for it to make a major contribution to the growth of Scotland and the wider UK.
“Our plans are transformational and ambitious. But they’re also achievable.
“Ayrshire has a lot going for it. The key to getting the Deal right, is capitalising on the many strengths of the area. It’s primed to take advantage of emerging technologies and build on robust sectors already operating in the area.”
The Deal seeks to make Ayrshire the UK’s leading hub for aerospace and space, with around £80m being invested in the sector.
The region – home to a cluster of global companies including BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Spirit, UTC and Woodward – already employs 4,000 people which accounts for 50% of its workforce in Scotland. The Deal provides the opportunity to double this. A key project will be the creation of a spaceport at Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA), with related infrastructure improvements.
A purpose-built 10,000ft Aerospace and Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) will drive new technologies and skills acting as a central hub to encourage growth, supporting aerospace and space businesses in Scotland and the UK. A range of high-quality, flexible commercial business space around the aerospace campus and improved transport infrastructure will support the continued growth of the sector.
The further development of Ayrshire’s proud history in manufacturing and engineering will be significantly enhanced with approximately £60m being invested to create a range of high-quality business spaces to stimulate the start up and growth of entrepreneurrial enterprises.
One of the projects is HALO – a transformational brownfield regeneration project being promoted by The HALO Kilmarnock Limited (THKL) in Kilmarnock. It will see the mixed use redevelopment of the 23 acre former Johnnie Walker whisky bottling plant site and re-establish the area as a centre of employment in Kilmarnock and Ayrshire.
An Ayrshire Engineering Park in Moorfield, Kilmarnock, will also create 15,000 square metres of serviced and high-quality business space, with wide choice of bespoke and ready built units in various sizes, to support the advanced manufacturing and light engineering sectors in Ayrshire.
The Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) in Kilmarnock will provide an Innovation Centre/Centre of Excellence on site which, combined with on-site support and start-up units, will allow advanced manufacturing sector businesses to start-up and grow, and further the growth of existing businesses.
The establishment of a subsea fibre-optic cable landing point to Irvine in North Ayrshire is also seen as hugely significant in making Ayrshire a world-class digitally connected region ripe for investors.
New developments, supporting the area’s Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical sector, are proposed for the i3 Irvine Enterprise Area in Irvine. The project create a regionally significant and nationally recognised Digital Automation centre of excellence relevant testing / R&D equipment and specialist staff. This facility will be developed in partnership with Strathclyde University.
“These are all really exciting plans,” said Sharon.
“These are sectors in which we already succeed, but the Deal can help us really explore new, exciting ways to make them even bigger and better. As I said previously, it’s up to us to get this right.”
The plans will also enhance Ayrshire’s coastline, capitalise on the superb opportunities provided by that Ayrshire’s harbours and ports, and address issues such as the provision of land for the development of new housing.
The Great Harbour plans, for example, will make the Harbourside area of Irvine a national maritime, culture, leisure and watersports hub. Medium and longer term ambitions include major development on the 900 acres of the Ardeer Peninsula which sits directly opposite the Harbourside.
The Growth Deal features prominently within a new Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy, which also encompasses a variety of other projects.
This is currently under development and will shape how the three authorities – East, North and South – and partners from the public and private sectors work together to achieve the best possible results for Ayrshire and the wider Scottish and UK economies.
Underpinning both the Strategy and the Deal is a commitment by all the partners to inclusive growth – a belief that growth should be for everyone.
Sharon says: “Inclusive growth is key to these proposals and we firmly believe that the Ayrshire Growth Deal will deliver economic growth that will enrich all our communities.
“Ayrshire has under-performed for some considerable time but we feel the Growth Deal can help us create new high quality jobs and opportunities across Ayrshire, which will help secure the future prosperity of the area, its businesses, and ultimately, its people.”
Further details relating to the AGD can be found at www.ayrshire.gov.uk/AyrshireDeal
