Ayrshire Growth Deal agreed
More than 拢250 million growth deal set to bring jobs and opportunity to the Ayrshire region for years to come.
Today [08 March 2019] Scottish Secretary David Mundell was joined by council leaders and the Scottish Government鈥檚 Cabinet Secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, to sign a transformational growth deal for Ayrshire.
The deal will see the UK government invest 拢103 million into the region over the next 15 years. This figure will be matched by the Scottish Government, and bolstered with further investment from regional partners bringing the total to more than 拢250 million.
The multi-million pound investment will help drive economic development across the region, boosting jobs, creating opportunity and encouraging further inward investment.
Ayrshire comprises the three local authority areas of East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire and is home to approximately 370,000 people. The growth deal will invest in growing sectors including aerospace, energy and life sciences as well as building on Ayrshire鈥檚 existing strengths in food and drink, manufacturing and engineering.
Some of the projects, which are all subject to approval of final business cases, include:
- 拢80 million investment to position Ayrshire as one of the UK鈥檚 leading centres of aerospace
- 拢23 million to build on Ayrshire鈥檚 proud history of manufacturing
- 拢24 million to help harness the potential of local energy generation
- A further 拢18 million to create a Centre for Research into low carbon energy at the Hunterston industrial hub
- 拢14 million investment in improving the region鈥檚 digital connectivity and infrastructure
The full Heads of Terms document sets out further details of the projects being proposed.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic news that the UK Government is to invest more than 拢100 million to grow Ayrshire鈥檚 economy, create jobs and boost prosperity. This investment will transform the Ayrshire economy over the coming 15 years.
鈥淲e are investing in a raft of exciting and ambitious projects right across Ayrshire. Initiatives include an aerospace development at Prestwick, a low carbon energy scheme at Hunterston, a local electricity supply project in Cumnock, a manufacturing corridor in Kilmarnock, and a digital subsea cable to dramatically improve connectivity.
鈥淭he Ayrshire growth deal brings UK Government investment in growth deals in Scotland to 拢1.3 billion, a huge commitment to growing Scotland鈥檚 economy.鈥�