The new town regeneration plan for Irvine outlines a vision to regenerate the town centre and kick-start the economy to create higher value jobs in the area. The plan focuses on how to make better use of Irvine’s unique town centre environment to create new opportunities for local people and attract inward investment to Irvine and the surrounding area.
The Irvine town centre regeneration plan builds upon the town’s historic beauty, its impressive coastal and riverside setting, convenient modern infrastructure and excellent transport links to Glasgow.
The plans for the town centre are designed to complement other exciting developments in and around Irvine. The redevelopment of Irvine Harbour by Urban Splash, the creation of The Ayrshire golf course and hotel at Marine Drive and business pavilions at Annickbank will all contribute to revitalisation. Other developing initiatives include the Tarryholme eco-homes initiative and development of the former NACCO site.
The new town regeneration plan for Kilwinning outlines a vision to make Kilwinning an attractive and successful town. The plan focuses on how to make better use of Kilwinning’s strong assets which include excellent transport links, key historic buildings and a recognised town centre with a college and core of independent shops. Our aim is to attract inward investment, encourage business relocation and support the local economy.
With its strong sense of community and attractive setting Kilwinning is already experiencing growth with new housing around the edges of the town. The new plan builds on the past and present to show what can be achieved over the next 10 – 15 years as we make the most of the opportunities.
Work to revitalise the Kilwinning Main Street is already underway.
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In Stevenston, the regeneration plan must ensure the town centre meets the needs of the local community, attracts new investment and creates day-to-day activity.
Three key development areas have been identified in Stevenston as the particular areas of the town where we need to focus attention, to maximise the impact of the regeneration process:
We believe that concentrating resources and investment in these key development areas will lead Stevenston to develop its business, recreational and leisure assets. Physical changes to the town centre will create a distinctive local offering and lead to new business opportunities in the area.
Developing projects include the Stevenston Business Centre at the former Grange Bingo Hall.
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The vision for Saltcoats that came clearly through the consultation process was to rejuvenate the retail and tourist offering in the town. For this to become reality, the plan must address the following issues:
Three key development areas have been identified in Saltcoats as the particular areas of the town where we need to focus attention, to maximise the impact of the regeneration process:
We believe that concentrating resources and investment in these key development areas will ensure that Saltcoats maintains its focus as the key shopping location within the three towns and reconnects the town centre with an improved waterfront.
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A theme that ran right through the consultation process in Ardrossan was that the town must become recognised as a place in its own right, not just as a gateway to Arran. Because of this the town plan seeks to create a place where people want to spend time, with the vibrant waterfront and successful marina development playing an important part.
Better access and connections with the sea
Three key development areas have been identified in Ardrossan as the particular areas of the town where we need to focus attention, to maximise the impact of the regeneration process:
We believe that concentrating resources and investment in these key development areas will provide the best opportunity to create more activity and a vibrant town centre.
Already, a number of regeneration projects are revitalising the town, such as:
54 - 56 Princes Street
93 Princes Street
Pump House
Lyric Theatre
'The Ayrshire’ will be an internationally renowned 18-hole links course complete with an adjoining hotel and holiday homes. The complex at Marine Drive, Irvine is expected to generate hundreds of jobs and add millions of pounds to our local economy. A 171 acre beachfront site, south-west of Irvine town centre, will be the location for this £60m development. The new links course will be open to the public as a pay and play course rather than soley for members only.
The £60 million project will be developed by The Ayrshire Golf Company, a joint venture between property investment and development company Credential Holdings Limited and KPT Limited.
The new course will be designed by acclaimed golf architect David McLay Kidd. His previous creations include The Castle course in St Andrews, Machrihanish Dunes at Kintyre and the celebrated Bandon Dunes in Oregon. Construction of the course will be overseen by Euan Grant, the former head green keeper of the old course at St Andrews.
The creation of this outstanding links course with all its facilities will help in developing an exciting and sustainable new future for Irvine Bay. Construction of the par 70 golf course and hotel, with clubhouse, professional’s shop, spa, restaurant and conference facilities will take around 20 months and involve at least 250 construction jobs. Once complete the development will require around 90 full time and 45 part time employees ranging from green keepers to bar tenders, caddies and hotel managers.
The development agreement between Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and The Ayrshire Golf Company was signed Autumn 2009, and now work is underway on the planning application.
Watch a short film as Brian Keating, Director, The Ayrshire Golf Company outlines the vision for 'The Ayrshire'.
]]>This 11 acre site at Irvine Harbour is the location for one of Irvine Bay’s most exciting development opportunities. This will provide an inspirational mixed-use development featuring a range of housing, leisure and business uses. In addition to a significant new-build programme, the project will see the refurbishment of the coastal watch tower and the redevelopment of the car park. A whole new community is planned with around 330 homes - many affordable for first time buyers. This will be complemented by a more active quayside, new commercial units at ground level containing new cafes, restaurants, shops and offices.
In 2008, following an extensive procurement exercise, Urban Splash was appointed as our development partner. The announcement was made at MIPIM (the international property expo).
During 2008/2009 further work is being carried out to progress the contractual aspects of the project. An outline planning proposal has now been prepared and submitted, and a decision by North Ayrshire Council is expected by March 2010.
Community consultation on the proposals is central to the planning process, with many meetings and events taking place. In March 2009 a consultation event ran over two days with displays and a model of the proposals on show. Personnel were on hand to speak to those who attended. Further consultation took place in August 2009 in advance of the planning application being submitted. Watch a short film on some of the feedback we received.
The developing plans are for a low rise mixed-use development based around a series of new streets, public squares and courtyard gardens. The new buildings will mostly be a mix of 2 and 3 storeys with a couple of taller 4 storey blocks located at important points on the site. One of the main ideas is to replicate the character of an old harbour town with tight weaving streets, a mix of surprising spaces and a range of different building types and forms.
On completion, which will take 5-10 years, this project will create a significant riverside development that will raise the profile of Irvine Bay at a regional and national level. This will include over 300 new homes and 30,000 sq ft of new business space.
Tom Bloxham, Chairman of Urban Splash:
"By focussing on quality architecture, creating a strong sense of place and by working in partnership with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council, we can deliver a mixed-use scheme that will help transform Irvine into a great place where people will want to live and work."
]]>An early action project has been setting the trend for regeneration in Ardrossan. A derelict office at 54-56 Princes Street has been turned into two modern shops in a project designed to kick-start regeneration in the area.
Two new high quality retail units were created. One is leased to an Italian delicatessen, a new-start business by two sisters living locally in Saltcoats. The other was sold to an expanding Kilbirnie-based kitchens and bathrooms business, for use as a new showroom.
The project is complete and the shops are occupied.
The former bank building in one of Ardrossan’s main streets has been refurbished and now provides premises for the Scottish Training Foundation (STF). Completed in June 2008, the refurbishment and extension of this stand-alone two storey building by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has provided 3,800 sq ft of lettable office space.
The property had lain empty for about six years and added to the general rundown appearance of the town. Its transformation is an important step in the regeneration of Ardrossan's town centre.
Having refurbished the building Irvine Bay Regeneration Company now lease it to STF. The STF provides training to help people from North Ayrshire into employment. 93 Princes Street provides the perfect size and location for their new training centre.
This project involved the successful redevelopment of an attractive, ‘B’ listed brick building, formerly used as a pump house for the port operations and owned by Clydeport Properties. The building provides an important architectural link with the port’s industrial history and is situated in a key, visible location adjoining the marina.
Ardrossan’s very own Italian restaurant, Cecchini's, has now opened for business in the beautifully refurbished pump house on the edge of the booming Ardrossan marina. Already the restaurant is attracting business from yacht owners and locals, as well as attracting passing trade from the Arran ferry.
A new coastal park along the length of Irvine Bay would make the most of our amazing natural resources. The idea behind the park is to encourage regeneration by promoting recreation and attracting more visitors to the area.
The 14 miles of Irvine Bay’s coastline is incredibly attractive, with stunning views over to Arran and the Ailsa Craig. It is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. The vision for the coastal park is to provide better facilities for walking, cycling, wildlife tourism, horse riding and watersports, so Irvine Bay becomes a great coastal destination.
In 2008 Land Use Consultants carried out a scoping study to assess the potential of a coastal park. This includes lessons from elsewhere, looking at other successful coastal parks across northern Europe that we can learn from.
In autumn 2009 Gross Max Landscape architects carried out a feasibility study at Irvine Beach Park. The study looked at ways to redevelop the park, providing better links with the beach itself, improving facilities and attractiveness.
One important idea is to develop coastal beacons and incorporate these as iconic landmarks in the park. The coastal beacons would be designed to be awe-inspiring and help to change perceptions of the area, contributing to the economic and cultural renaissance of Irvine Bay.
The formal designation of the “Irvine Bay Coastal Park” may be a few years off yet. However, we are working with partners to develop projects that will eventually be integrated into a coastal park around the bay.
Examples of these projects include:
Annickbank is a prestigious 6 acre development site, one mile east of Irvine town centre and close to the A78 in Ayrshire, Scotland. Speyroc were chosen as the preferred developer to bring forward the first phase of an office campus, with work starting late in 2009. The new development will create 28,000 sq ft of high quality office space during phase 1. The much-needed new office accommodation is expected to attract jobs and businesses into this area of Ayrshire.
The new office pavilions at Annickbank in Irvine are being designed to set the highest possible standards for sustainability. The buildings will be built to BREEAM Excellent and an A Rated Energy Performance Certificate.
Planning permission has been secured and work started in December 2009.
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