Annual Public Meeting 2009

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company can help create opportunities despite the economic downturn, attendees at Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s Annual Public Meeting will be told later this month (March).

The event takes place at the Gailes Hotel, Marine Drive, Irvine at 10.30am on Thursday 19 March.

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has major projects at a stage where progress can continue to be made and with committed partners determined to see momentum maintained.

Chief Executive Patrick Wiggins is confident that the company’s creative approach to working with private and public sector partners will continue to ensure significant progress is made during the coming months, and that opportunities can be grasped. He said: “Irvine Bay benefits from having an Urban Regeneration Company in place, with its ability to make things happen.

While we are not immune from the difficult economic times, the fact that our plans are long-term provides us with the ability to focus on important planning and preparation work, whilst helping to progress ongoing plans and developments.

“Because of the unique nature of URCs we can take a creative approach which allows us, for instance, to share both risk and potential profit with development partners through the provision of land rather than the straightforward sale of a site. We have also helped provide essential gap funding, and in another case we have been able to assist through the funding of site enabling work. All of this means that developers working with us can enjoy a higher degree of confidence. 

“In order to reach this point we have been working closely with our funding partners (North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government) and many other stakeholders from the public and private sectors.”

Those attending will also hear about significant progress since last year’s meeting, including the endorsement of the company’s Business Plan by the Scottish Government, assuring £6 million funding through till 2011. This money matches the investments already committed by both Scottish Enterprise and also North Ayrshire Council.

He added: “There have also been clear early signs of the impact that can be made in the towns, through the bringing back to life of previously disused buildings. In Princes Street, Ardrossan, buildings at 54, 56 and 93 have been reborn as shops and offices. We have also seen the town’s listed former pump house transformed into a bar and bistro at the harbour, bringing life and activity. The Lyric Theatre façade is to be restored to provide a dramatic frontage for a new building development.

“In Kilwinning, work has started on-site to revitalise the Main Street as a commercial and community focal point for the town with a major streetscape improvement programme currently out to tender.

“The new office pavilions at Annickbank in Irvine are being designed to set the highest possible standards for sustainability with work on site infrastructure already started.”

As the regeneration of Irvine Bay continues to gather momentum, the meeting represents an opportunity for the local community to come along and hear about many other exciting projects for the area. Irvine Bay is well placed to deliver projects that will bring investment and strong economic growth to the five towns.

To register your attendance as the vision for Irvine Bay gathers pace,

• visit www.registerforevent.co.uk/irvinebay
• telephone 0845 60 66 826
• or email irvinebay@starkeventsuk.com and type “Irvine Bay – APM” in the title