A £300million investment in Ayrshire is one step closer to becoming a reality, according to the leading players in the region’s growth deal.

The proposals for Ayrshire that could transform the economic prospects for the region have taken a major step forward and the Ayrshire Growth Deal partners, which includes the three Ayrshire Councils and national agencies, with support from the private sector, met last Friday with Lord Duncan of Springbank, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland.

They are now hopeful they will soon secure much-needed funds from both UK and Scottish governments – which will help deliver a £300m package of investment in key assets and sectors that will not only positively impact Ayrshire but the Scottish and UK economies too.

During his visit, Lord Duncan was given a tour of three sites – Hunterston in North Ayrshire, Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire and Prestwick in South Ayrshire – and met with some of the partners involved.

The AGD partnership has been working on the development of the Growth Deal and its associated projects since Prime Minister Theresa May announced her commitment to the deal in March.

The partnership has been in regular dialogue with the UK and Scottish Governments in recent months to ensure their business cases fit in with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy.

When implemented, the projects will create thousands of jobs, build on Ayrshire’s assets and strengths and promote an economy where inclusive growth – creating opportunities for all – is at its core.

Speaking after the meetings Lord Duncan said: “It’s fantastic to see and hear about so many ambitious plans for unlocking Ayrshire’s potential. Ayrshire has a huge amount to offer, from manufacturing to life sciences, to tourism and space.

“I want to see a Growth Deal that is inclusive and enriches the whole of Ayrshire and it’s clear from today that there are real opportunities to bring transformative investment to achieve just that.

“The UK Government has already committed £3.5m to the HALO Kilmarnock project and I am determined to see a wider Ayrshire Growth Deal become a reality.”

Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “We are now closing in on concluding a deal and feel this could now be a matter of weeks away.

“This is incredibly exciting for not only those involved in the projects but for the whole of Ayrshire. We have been pushing for this Ayrshire Growth Deal relentlessly because we absolutely believe in it and what it will mean locally and on a wider scale.

“We are sure Lord Duncan enjoyed his visit and will have been impressed with our proposals.”

During his tour of Hunterston, Lord Duncan met with representatives from Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and Strathclyde University to explore the potential within the site as the team explained how fresh investment and a redeveloped facility would create high-value jobs in a variety of sustainable, and technological industries.

In Kilmarnock, Lord Duncan met representatives from East Ayrshire Council and In Prestwick, Lord Duncan visited BAE Systems.