Multi-million pound Irvine town centre plans on show

Irvine people will have the chance to see exciting multi-million pound plans to transform Irvine town centre this week.

An innovative “pop-up-shop” in the former Stationary Box unit, created by North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, will be open in the heart of the town centre on Friday, 7 October and Saturday, 8 October.

The pop-up-shop will be used to display some of the key first-phase plans for the future of the town centre – including artists’ impressions, plans, designs, computer flythrough and video on the four key projects that will make a huge difference to the town over the next few years. These include:

• Bridgegate public realm - new paving, lighting, seating, landscaping – the plan is to completely transform the area, creating a busy hub where people can enjoy shopping and relaxing
• Trinity Church - with significant financial support from Historic Scotland, important repairs will bring this A-listed building back to life.
• Bridgegate House - the refurbishment of the outmoded 1970s-style building will have an immediate impact on the area and will tie in with the surrounding redevelopment to create a contemporary town centre
• New leisure centre – a modern new leisure facility with the community at its heart will be built in the centre of Irvine

Officers and architects responsible for the four projects will be available to guide local people around the various projects, provide answers to questions and take feedback.

Comment cards will let members of the public express their views on the town centre regeneration – particularly in relation to early-action projects like Bridgegate public realm.

The shop will be open from 10am until 5.30pm on Friday 7th October and 10am until 2pm on Saturday 8th October.

There will also be a great opportunity for members of the public to see inside the Trinity Church. Three guided tours will take place: - on Friday at 12noon and 2pm and on Saturday at 12noon.

Tour numbers are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Sign up at the pop-up-shop to make sure you take up this fantastic insight into the project.

Councillor David O’Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “This multi-million pound investment to transform Irvine town centre is the biggest thing to happen to Irvine for a generation and we know how important it is to ensure local people are given as much opportunity to be involved as possible.

“The Council and our partners Irvine Bay Regeneration Company are confident that we will create an environment which will attract visitors and business while becoming a source of pride for the people of Irvine.

“We want people to embrace this vision, to give us feedback on the proposals – on how they would like to see their town centre develop over the next few years and their views on the projects they will see.”

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay said: "The intention is to transform the town centre of Irvine through these and other projects, in line with the regeneration plan for Irvine.

“It is an exciting time, and when you place it in the wider context for the town – and other regeneration projects such as The Ayrshire golf complex, our plans for Irvine harbourside, the NACCO site and other business infrastructure projects, then this should be a transformational time for Irvine.

“ It is right that the public should be integral in plans for Irvine’s exciting future.”