South Ayrshire Council has unveiled plans to build a massive aerospace overhaul, maintenance and repair facility next to Prestwick Airport.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that the local authority has lodged the proposals as part of a planning application aimed supporting the region’s growing aerospace sector.
The plan is to build a 68,000-square-foot industrial facility immediately next to Prestwick Airport which would provide “high-specification industrial and manufacturing space.”
South Ayrshire Council are the applicants in the proposals and a description of the plan seeks planning permission to build an aerospace overhaul, maintenance and repair facility, including “all access roads, car parking and landscaping”- in Fresson Avenue.
A new road, branching off Shawfarm Road, will be created too, opening access to the land south of the application site. While this is associated with the overall development, it will be subject to a separate planning application.
Parking provision will allow for 122 spaces including EV Car Parking (12), Accessible Parking (4) and EV Wheelchair Accessible Parking (2).
And the perimeter of the site will be secured by a 2.45 metre high chain link fence, including a barbwire top guard. A gatehouse and guard will operate at the entrance to the site.
The design and access statement says: “The application outlines the proposed development of a brand-new, 68,000-square-foot industrial facility situated immediately adjacent to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in the coastal town of Prestwick, South Ayrshire.
View 3 ImagesThe proposed site in red (Image: Submitted/Ayrshire)
“Commissioned by South Ayrshire Council, this state-of-the-art building is specifically designed to support the region’s growing aerospace sector by providing high-specification industrial and manufacturing space.”
View 3 ImagesA view of the proposed repair and maintenance facility(Image: Submitted/Ayrshire)
The current area which is earmarked for the development is a vacant parcel of land which the applicants say is “strategically positioned” inside the Aerospace sector hub, making it “highly suited” for commercial development.
The access statement continues: “The site is bounded by critical aviation and aerospace infrastructure, creating a highly specialised surrounding context. The site directly borders Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the east. The immediate vicinity is occupied by various aerospace companies to the north and west. Directly to the south lies an area of undeveloped open greenspace, beyond which, to the south-west sits the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) complex.”
It’s understood the project forms part of the wider ongoing investment in the aerospace cluster and Ayrshire Growth Deal.
It follows the announcement of a £40m investment that will go towards Ryanair’s new maintenance facility, which was announced in March.
At the time, First Minister John Swinney confirmed that a new Ryanair facility would potentially unlock 450 highly-skilled engineer and mechanic jobs, as well as 60 apprenticeships, with money for the scheme coming from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and a contribution from the UK Government. It was also revealed that the budget airline firm planned to expand its current maintenance facility, increasing in size from six to 10 bays, making it Ryanair’s largest heavy maintenance hangar.
Ayrshire Live contacted South Ayrshire Council, asking if the planning application was linked to the Ryanair expansion.
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However, a spokesperson for the local authority would only say: “All information publicly available is on South Ayrshire Council’s Planning Portal.”
The proposals are listed as ‘pending consideration’ and a decision on them is expected in September.
It’s the latest exciting development in the aerospace sector at Prestwick, following on from Ayrshire Live’s exclusive earlier in the month, revealing how Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems, based at Shawfarm Road, Prestwick, unveiled plans to build a 1,900 square metre extension to the southern side of their existing operational facility.