The Scottish Government is to provide £1.8 million from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme to fund a new geothermal heating system for new homes at the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock.

The homes are part of a three-phase mixed development of the site, the HALO project, which will include an enterprise and innovation hub for business startups, a renewable energy centre and commercial and leisure units. Altogether it has attracted £5.3 million in Scottish Government funding.

The HALO project is an investment proposal within the Ayrshire Growth Deal.  The £25 million first phase redevelopment of the site will be supported by funding from the private sector, Diageo, East Ayrshire Council and the UK and Scottish Governments. Diageo has provided the 23 acres of land for the development and £2 million in financial investment.