Hunterston is amongst 65 locations named as a potential logistics base for delivery of the proposed £16,000 million expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Scottish Ministers backed the Heathrow proposal after securing commitments that the expansion would add up to 16,000 new jobs across Scotland.
Ten Scottish sites have been long-listed, including Hunterston. One will be chosen from four selected locations to pre-assemble components of the expanded airport before transporting them in consolidated loads to Heathrow.
In October 2016 the SNP Government backed plans for a third runway at London Heathrow as it offers “the greatest strategic and economic benefits to Scotland.”
Commenting, Cabinet Secretary for Economy Keith Brown MSP said:
“Expansion at Heathrow will bring major investment and job creation opportunities to Scotland, with the establishment of a logistics hub one of the key commitments secured in the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with the airport.
“I am very pleased to see bids from sites across Scotland being put forward for more detailed consideration and look forward to seeing the process progress from here.”
Added Kenneth Gibson MSP:
“I am delighted that at least one of these logistics hubs will come to Scotland. I believe that Hunterston fits the bill given its, size, location and excellent connectivity. It is accessible to the west of Scotland’s highly skilled workforce and ready to be primed to secure jobs and boost inclusive economic growth in Ayrshire and Scotland.
“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy urging the SNP Government to back Hunterston as we progress to the next stage of the selection process for the Logistics Hubs.”
Heathrow Chairman Lord Deighton commented:
“Scotland could help deliver expansion faster, more affordably and with minimal impact on local communities around the airport.
“The third runway will rely on talent from all over the UK helping to create an asset for generations to come. This means new procurement opportunities for businesses to help drive growth and investment into local communities in all corners of the UK.”
“We are not London centric; we are opening up asking for its skills and expertise to help build an asset the UK desperately needs to safeguard its future prosperity.”
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