CONSTRUCTION of the £48.8 million Ayrshire Innovation Park at Moorfield in Kilmarnock is officially underway.
The site spans almost 32 acres and will be home to the Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) and the Ayrshire Engineering Park, which East Ayrshire Council said will collectively contribute over £272 million to the local economy over 25 years.
Works will be carried out on a phased basis over the next three years, the first of which is now underway, with the construction of a new spine road and two new junctions around the Moorfield site.
Heron Bros is the appointed contractor for the infrastructure phase and will oversee the works until their completion in 2026. Construction of the industrial units and centre of excellence is expected to start in 2027.
The local authority said the construction phase will create 245 local jobs and a further 280 roles will be generated within the food, drink, and engineering sectors.
Councillor Douglas Reid, leader of the East Ayrshire Council and chair of Ayrshire Regional Joint Committee was joined by Richard Lochhead MSP, minister for business and employment, and UK Government minister Kirsty McNeill to mark the start of works on the site.
Councillor Reid said, “This is a big day not only for Kilmarnock, but Ayrshire as a whole as it represents a major milestone for the Ayrshire Growth Deal, and I’m delighted that our funding partners, both Scottish and UK Governments and SPEN, have joined us today. Our long-term ambitions for the Ayrshire Growth Deal aim to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing companies, create more jobs and bring new opportunities to the area and I’m confident that Ayrshire Innovation Park will achieve this and more.
“AIP will create job opportunities across a wide range of established and emerging sectors, including engineering and advanced manufacturing, with a particular focus on food manufacturing and production, and it will consolidate Ayrshire’s reputation as an attractive place to work, live and invest.
“This sustainable development will also incorporate transport links, public realm zones, walkways and open spaces which will deliver significant social benefits to the wider community. It is anticipated that the number of jobs created will exceed the projected figures due to high levels of initial interest in these units, bringing increased economic growth to the region. Our business support team has already received enquiries from businesses looking to relocate here, demonstrating that there is a real demand for facilities like these and I’m really looking forward to seeing these long-anticipated plans become a reality.”
Richard Lochhead added, “The Ayrshire Innovation Park represents a transformational investment in Scotland’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities. With Scottish Government backing of £25.5 million, the development will create more than 500 jobs during construction and operation. By combining facilities for food production with advanced manufacturing space, the park will help local businesses grow, attract new investment to Ayrshire and strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a centre of industrial innovation.
“It is part of a wider £103 million investment by the Scottish Government in the Ayrshire Growth Deal which aims to create 7,000 jobs and deliver real opportunities for communities across the region.”
UK Government Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill said, “It is great news that construction is now underway at the Ayrshire Innovation Park. The UK Government is investing £13 million in this project – as part of our £103 million commitment to the Ayrshire Growth Deal – delivering hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds of economic benefits for the area. In total, the UK Government is investing more than £2 billion in dozens of important local and regional projects the length and breadth of Scotland over 10 years, bringing much-needed economic and community renewal.”
