North Ayrshire is set to host a major AI industrial park backed by AI Pathfinder’s £15 billion investment, transforming the UK’s AI landscape and creating thousands of jobs from 2026.
North Ayrshire is poised to become a central hub in the UK's burgeoning artificial intelligence landscape, following the announcement that AI Pathfinder—a UK-based company—will invest up to £15 billion in developing a landmark AI industrial park at the i3 site on the outskirts of Irvine. This ambitious project, which will commence operations in 2026, aims to position the region as one of the largest AI infrastructure hubs in Europe, signalling a transformational step for both the local economy and the national AI sector.
AI Pathfinder, a subsidiary of Salamanca, a London-based property development firm led by entrepreneur Martin Bellamy, plans to deploy an initial £385 million investment into a 1GW industrial site featuring up to 6,400 graphics processing units (GPUs). The firm’s broader vision encompasses delivering up to 2GW of sovereign AI supercomputing capacity across the UK, with the first deployment slated for Northamptonshire in late 2025, involving a £3.4 billion project that includes the Dell AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA. This facility will focus on supporting complex workloads in sectors such as healthcare and advanced logistics.
The North Ayrshire AI industrial park is designed not only as an advanced technology infrastructure but also as a catalyst for substantial employment. It is expected to generate numerous construction jobs initially and then support a wide range of skilled roles in digital infrastructure, data centre operations, and engineering throughout its ongoing operation. This aligns with local strategies aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and innovation, including the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy and the £251 million Ayrshire Growth Deal.
Local government figures have welcomed the announcement enthusiastically. Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy, described the investment as “transformational for our young people and residents,” underscoring the region’s ambition to build an inclusive wellbeing economy based on pioneering Community Wealth Building principles. He highlighted Ayrshire's rising reputation in digital skills and smart manufacturing, pointing to existing initiatives such as the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre in Irvine and the region’s role as a testbed for 5G innovation. Collaborative efforts with the University of the West of Scotland, Ayrshire College, and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland are already supporting the development of AI and data science capabilities, strengthening Ayrshire’s position at the forefront of technical innovation.
The investment fits into a wider UK government context, where efforts to bolster national AI and supercomputing capabilities are underway. Recent government announcements include a £300 million funding boost aimed at enhancing British supercomputing through new developments at leading universities, intended to make UK AI research resources 30 times more powerful. This broader push complements private sector initiatives like AI Pathfinder’s, collectively seeking to establish the UK as a global leader in AI research and responsible innovation.
AI Pathfinder’s vision for the North Ayrshire site includes future expansion potential to 1.5GW, reflecting long-term confidence in the area’s strategic importance and capacity for growth. As the project progresses, ongoing partnerships between public bodies, educational institutions, and industry participants will be critical to maximising economic, technological, and social benefits for the region.
In sum, this ambitious AI industrial park represents a key milestone on the path to making the UK a leader in AI infrastructure innovation. By leveraging significant private investment alongside regional collaboration and government support, North Ayrshire is set to become a vibrant centre for cutting-edge AI development, delivering substantial economic impact and exciting opportunities for local people.
Source: Noah Wire Services
