Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, supported by South Ayrshire Council has just appointed international property consultants King Sturge as sole agent to market a new 3,900 m 2 development at Prestwick International Aerospace Park.

The two new buildings have been specifically designed for businesses in the aerospace sector. Contractors started on-site in September, with the completion date scheduled for August 2006.

Unit 1 will extend to 2,696 m 2 (29,020 ft 2 ) and will be marketing on a single or multi-occupancy basis, with sub-division possible into four units of circa 696 m 2 (7,500 ft 2 ), with rental being in the region of £75 per m 2 . This unit has been designed to have larger office content than standard business units with up to 50% high specification office coverage possible. Unit 2 extends to 1,238 m 2 (13,326 ft 2 ) and is available on a single occupancy basis with rental being in the region of £50 per m 2 .

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is one of the UK's and indeed Europe's fastest growing airports, currently handling around two million passengers a year and accounting for 60% of air cargo handled in Scotland. Geographically, it is ideally placed, with the Ayrshire hub only 35 minutes drive from Glasgow.

The airport and surrounding area has an existing cluster of businesses involved in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector of the aerospace industry. Prestwick is the base for companies including BAe, GE Caledonian and the Goodrich Corporation, making it a key centre for aerospace activity in the UK.

Commenting on the development, John McGuire, senior operations executive at Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire said: " The aerospace industry offers tremendous opportunities for creating highly skilled, high value jobs in Ayrshire. We intend making this a very high specification property, targeted specifically at both home-grown and international companies who are looking to set up a base in Scotland. We are confident that there is a market out there for a facility like this and we look forward to attracting interest from prospective tenants."

Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald, Leader of South Ayrshire Council added: "The growth in Prestwick Airport in recent years has been a catalyst for regeneration in the local area and we are delighted to be actively involved in the new development at the Aerospace Park."

Cass Hibbert, senior surveyor of property consultants King Sturge said: "The development at Prestwick International Aerospace Park provides the optimum solution for businesses in the aerospace sector, providing high quality space at competitive costs. We have already noted keen interest in the development."

This project has also been supported by the European Structural Fund.