South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle was in attendance as UK and Scottish Government Ministers put pen to paper and made the Ayrshire Growth Deal a reality.
With the signing of the Heads of Terms document on Friday, the two governments and three Ayrshire councils have confirmed the details of the £251.5 million package of investment in projects across Ayrshire.
Commenting, Brian Whittle MSP said:
“After a huge amount of hard work, I’m delighted that the Deal is now agreed. This deal will give Ayrshire the tools it needs to compete with other parts of the UK and the world. Since becoming an MSP, I’ve seen the scale of talent and ambition that people in Ayrshire have for the area and this deal will help that talent to flourish.
The National Energy Research Demonstrator Project will not only make Cumnock a hub for renewable energy research but also aims to make the area energy self-sufficient; something that can not only benefit the local area but potentially make a massive difference to our energy future.
I’m also particularly excited by the Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor, to be sited at Bellfield in Kilmarnock. Aside from attracting more businesses into the area, it will also be home to a new dairy innovation centre that will look to develop new products in the dairy industry and research how to improve processes. Ayrshire is home to a large part of Scotland’s diary industry and this is a real opportunity to showcase the talents of our local farmers and make the most of Scotland’s reputation for high quality food and drink.
All of the projects in the deal can make a big difference to Ayrshire’s future, but they’re only part of the story. The confirmation of the Ayrshire Growth Deal only serves to underline the need for the Scottish Government to invest in the area’s transport network. The A77, A76, Bellfield Interchange and local railway lines will all play a part in making these projects a success and they need to be as good as they can be.
The Growth Deal marks a huge step towards creating a powerhouse economy in Ayrshire and I’m excited to see where we can go from here.”
