Work is continuing to develop on schedule at Diageo's facility at Kirkcaldy, Fife.

The first phase of the development at Begg Farm, Cluny, has now been completed and represents a £150m investment in the area.

The additional work will see the site house 46 warehouses, as well as cask filling and emptying facilities. To date, the first seven warehouses have been completed, plus sprinkler tanks and a gatehouse. Other works finished include an access road and ground work landscaping. Some one and a half million cubic metres of soil have been transported on site and 170,000 trees and shrubs have been planted too.

Work started on the project in 2012, with the first warehouses being completed last year. Once completed, the scheme will create 25 new jobs for the drinks company, with a further 15-20 jobs in security, catering, cleaning and transport also being made.

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Jobs are also being created during the construction phase with around 1,500 man-years of construction work needed to build the complete site, spread over five to seven years.

Depute Leader of Fife Council, Councillor Lesley Laird, said: "Diageo has made a continued commitment to Fife through it's operations at Cameronbridge and Leven and their new site in Cluny strengthens that even further.

"As well as helping to give the local economy a boost, their confidence in Fife sends a message to other national and international companies that the Kingdom has a lot to offer. Continuing to attract companies such as Diageo also helps our work to make Fife the best place to do business."

Diageo's Operations Director for Warehousing and Blending, Harry Fox, added: "This development reinforces our commitment not only to this area, but to our business in Scotland as whole.

"This is a massive site with superb links to the road network and we have worked closely with Fife Council and neighbours throughout the development.

"The first phase of the development has been completed on schedule, and phase two will see a further seven warehouses completed and operational throughout 2014."

(JP/IT)