Planning permission in principle has been granted for the £65 million HALO urban regeneration project in Kilmarnock.

The development, spearheaded by Kilmarnock-based developers Klin Group, will see a new Urban Park created providing a commercial, cultural, leisure and lifestyle quarter for Kilmarnock.

Developers HALO Kilmarnock Limited will now proceed to the submission of detailed plans for the development to East Ayrshire Council over the coming weeks.

Features of the scheme will include;

• A Resilience Capability Business Centre for digital and online resilience businesses in research, development and application, locating innovators in financial services, private investors, insurance and technology companies

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• An enterprise, engineering, manufacturing and textiles centre for small and medium sized businesses

• 1,000 capacity education, conference and exhibition centre (benefiting local schools, colleges and universities)

• A cultural hub for small creative businesses and social enterprises in crafts, film, art, music, media, literature, marketing and technology

• A year-round leisure and water sports facility

• 3,000m2 of commercial offices

• Health & wellbeing premises, life-style shops and cafes

• Landscaped public plaza

• 175 'affordable' rented houses

• An energy centre powering a district heating system

• Public space including new road and footpath networks connecting to the Rail Station and town centre.

Marie Macklin, The HALO's founder, said: "This important community-led project has been eight years in the making and I am thrilled that we have reached this landmark today. We can now push forward with the development of The HALO, creating enterprise opportunities, not just for Kilmarnock, but for East Ayrshire and Scotland as a whole."

(LM)