Ministers and Councillors have held a ceremony to mark the start of a new development for employers as part of an ongoing regeneration scheme in Ravenscraig.

The £4.5m investment at SevenFourEight Ravenscraig aims to attract high-profile businesses to the ambitious development at Scotland's largest regeneration site.

The ceremony marked the continuation of construction works attended by Kate Forbes MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy; Cllr Paul Kelly, Depute Leader, North Lanarkshire Council; Des Murray, CEO of North Lanarkshire Council; and senior representatives of the Ravenscraig Joint Venture Board which includes Wilson Bowden, Scottish Enterprise and Tata Steel.

With significant commercial enquiries being received, the new employment land will enhance economic opportunities in North Lanarkshire and provide further attractive options to businesses looking to locate in the region.

Work is underway to build an access road, made possible in part by funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council. It is anticipated that it will deliver tangible economic benefit to the region.

VHE Construction is carrying out the civil engineering aspect of the project with GTC delivering utilities.

Finance and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: "I am very pleased to see such impressive progress on this transformative project. The past two years have seen considerable challenges and this development shows the skill and resilience of all those involved.

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"The Ravenscraig site is one of great importance and it is fantastic to see it being transformed from the derelict land that it had become following the closure of the Steelworks to this thriving new community."

Nick Davies, director of Ravenscraig Ltd, said: "The delivery of this access road represents a major milestone in the regeneration of Ravenscraig and will contribute towards Scotland's economic recovery. We expect to welcome a host of organisations to this new site over the coming years, with Ravenscraig becoming an increasingly attractive option to forward-looking businesses.

"We're grateful to the support received from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council, who both recognise the potential of Ravenscraig as a place to work, live and play."

Scottish Enterprise interim CEO Linda Hanna said: "Access to and availability of employment land is fundamental to Scotland's economic recovery and this access road is an important milestone in helping pave the way to future investment in North Lanarkshire.

"Ultimately, it's about building an environment where businesses are at the beating heart of communities helping create opportunities for shared economic prosperity. Scottish Enterprise looks forward to working with partners and the local community to drive forward the regeneration and realise Ravenscraig's full potential."

Councillor Paul Kelly, Depute Leader of North Lanarkshire Council said: "The progress being made at SevenFourEight Ravenscraig shows continued confidence in investing in North Lanarkshire, and the wealth of opportunities available at Ravenscraig.

"People and businesses in the region have already been benefitting from the value of the significant investments made at Ravenscraig to date. With more exciting developments in the pipeline, to provide a best-in-class environment for local communities and business, and we can ensure the site continues to thrive in to the future."

Ravenscraig has undergone major investment in the last decade, with several success stories including the creation of 1,000 homes, the regional sports facility, a state-of-the-art college campus and a pub restaurant and hotel.

Reflecting the needs of the modern community, the Ravenscraig Masterplan has a focus on creating a place with high quality housing, transport links, education and employment opportunities and space to exercise, play and safely enjoy the outdoors.

In October last year, funding approval was granted for the Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure project, which will see Ravenscraig connect north to the M8 and south to Motherwell and the M74.

Plans were also submitted by Russell Group to create hundreds of jobs at a £200m railhead logistics hub. The proposed development would serve as the company's UK headquarters, with the facility set to include a training academy which also functions as a test bed for innovation in the transport industry.