Work has begun on the Ayrshire Innovation Park (AIP) at Moorfield, Kilmarnock, with partners gathering to mark the start of the £48.8m Ayrshire Growth Deal project.

The scheme is the latest Growth Deal investment to break ground in East Ayrshire and is intended to drive job creation and business expansion well into the next decade. Spanning almost 32 acres, the park will host two Growth Deal initiatives — the Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) and the Ayrshire Engineering Park (AEP) — which together are projected to contribute over £272m to the local economy over 25 years. The construction phase is expected to support 245 local jobs, with a further 280 roles in the food, drink and engineering sectors.

The projects have attracted significant external backing: £25.5m from the Scottish Government, £13m from the UK Government, £6.4m from Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) and £4m from East Ayrshire Council.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council and Chair of the Ayrshire Regional Joint Committee, was joined on site by Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business and Employment, and UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill to mark the milestone.

Councillor Douglas Reid said: "This is a big day not only for Kilmarnock, but Ayrshire as a whole as it represents a major milestone for the Ayrshire Growth Deal, and I'm delighted that our funding partners, both Scottish and UK Governments and SPEN, have joined us today.

"Our long-term ambitions for the Ayrshire Growth Deal aim to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing companies, create more jobs and bring new opportunities to the area and I'm confident that Ayrshire Innovation Park will achieve this and more.

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"AIP will create job opportunities across a wide range of established and emerging sectors, including engineering and advanced manufacturing, with a particular focus on food manufacturing and production, and it will consolidate Ayrshire's reputation as an attractive place to work, live and invest.

"This sustainable development will also incorporate transport links, public realm zones, walkways and open spaces which will deliver significant social benefits to the wider community.

"It is anticipated that the number of jobs created will exceed the projected figures due to high levels of initial interest in these units, bringing increased economic growth to the region.

"Our Business Support team has already received enquiries from businesses looking to relocate here, demonstrating that there is a real demand for facilities like these and I'm really looking forward to seeing these long-anticipated plans become a reality."

Business and Employment Minister Richard Lochhead said: "The Ayrshire Innovation Park represents a transformational investment in Scotland's manufacturing and engineering capabilities. With Scottish Government backing of £25.5 million, the development will create more than 500 jobs during construction and operation.

"By combining facilities for food production with advanced manufacturing space, the park will help local businesses grow, attract new investment to Ayrshire and strengthen Scotland's reputation as a centre of industrial innovation.

"It is part of a wider £103 million investment by the Scottish Government in the Ayrshire Growth Deal which aims to create 7,000 jobs and deliver real opportunities for communities across the region."

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "It is great news that construction is now underway at the Ayrshire Innovation Park. The UK Government is investing £13 million in this project - as part of our £103 million commitment to the Ayrshire Growth Deal - delivering hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds of economic benefits for the area.

"In total, the UK Government is investing more than £2 billion in dozens of important local and regional projects the length and breadth of Scotland over 10 years, bringing much-needed economic and community renewal."

AMIC, backed by £26.5m of Growth Deal funding including £3m from the Building Digital Capital programme, will create a Centre of Excellence for the food and drink industry with test and pilot kitchens for training and large-scale trials, butchery facilities and presentation areas.

AEP, supported by £16m of Growth Deal investment, will provide flexible, high-quality premises suited to advanced manufacturing and light engineering, creating space for growing firms.

Both developments will feature high-grade digital connectivity via a private 5G network to support critical business applications. With £6.4m of private sector funding from SPEN, the park will also benefit from a substantially upgraded electrical network, including new on-site substations.

Works will be delivered in phases over the next three years. The initial stage — now under way — comprises a new spine road and two junctions at Moorfield. Heron Bros are the appointed contractors for the infrastructure phase, which is due to complete in 2026. Construction of the industrial units and the Centre of Excellence is expected to begin in 2027.