£3.5million boost for whisky site makeover

UK MINISTERS are to invest £3.5million to help turn a former whisky bottling plant into an urban park with retail units and affordable homes.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell will today unveil Government funding for the £65million Halo project in Kilmarnock.

Work is due to begin next month to transform the former Johnnie Walker plant into a mixed-use development, with manufacturing facilities, leisure pool and green energy system.

The project at the 20-acre site – donated by Diageo – is being led by developer Klin Group.

Funding comes mainly from the private sector, with support from Diageo, east Ayrshire Council,

‘Ambitious regeneration’

the University of the West of Scotland and the Government.

Scots businesswoman Marie Macklin has been the driving force behind the scheme and is hoping to develop similar regeneration in Northern Ireland.

It is hoped the Johnnie Walker project could create 1,000 jobs.

Mr Mundell said: ‘This £3.5million investment – part of the UK Government’s ambitious industrial strategy – will help create an innovation hub at the heart of this ambitious regeneration project. The scheme has huge potential to transform the Ayrshire economy, drive business innovation and attract new talent to the region.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We welcome this investment. We are in discussions with the Halo project and examining their proposals.’

South Scotland Tory MSP Brian Whittle called the funding ‘a massive boost for the area’.