The UK Government is to invest £100 million in the Ayrshire Growth Deal to help drive economic development in the region — boosting jobs, creating opportunity and encouraging further inward investment.

The funding levels for specific projects will be confirmed in the coming weeks; the focus is expected to be on employability and skills programmes, innovation, aerospace and energy projects at Hunterston and Cumnock, as well as improvements to digital connectivity and regeneration.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell made the announcement on a recent visit to HALO Kilmarnock and Ayrshire College.

He said: “The UK Government’s investment in the Ayrshire Growth Deal will be transformative for the region, boosting jobs and prosperity right across Ayrshire.

“We look forward to working with the Ayrshire councils, the Scottish government and the private sector to finalise the details of the innovative projects to be funded through the Growth Deal.”

The UK Government has previously committed to investing £3.5 million in HALO Kilmarnock (www.halo-projects.com), which is an ambitious regeneration project situated in a former Diageo bottling plant.

Marie Macklin, founder and chairman of the HALO Urban Regeneration Co, said: “I am honoured that the Secretary of State has chosen to come to Kilmarnock to announce the UK Government’s support for the Ayrshire Growth Deal and to underline the important role that HALO will play in that.

"Construction work is due to begin shortly and everyone at HALO is looking forward to delivering this exciting, community-led development, which will breathe new life into not just Kilmarnock and East Ayrshire but the whole of Scotland.”