Ardrossan North Shore

A multi-million pound Joint Venture has been agreed between Peel and Irvine Bay to redevelop the former Shell refinery site, which could also see a massive expansion of the marina over the coming years.

Highlights of the £70 million development include:

• A total of 30 acres of former oil refinery land in the heart of the town cleaned up and redeveloped
• More than 400 new homes created
• at least 4,000 square metres of offices created, along with a restaurant and a care home
• The creation of new public open space
• A first phase of 165 new berths at the marina, with an eventual additional number of around 500

The development programme will take around 10 years, with the first phase of work starting this Summer. The project is expected to create the equivalent of 414 new jobs.

The existing marina was developed in the late 1990s by Peel and Clyde Marina and the 250 berths operate at virtual full capacity. The marina also provides boat repairs and maintenance, sales, hoists and car parking.

Preliminary design work is now under way for the marina extension. The consultants are Arch Henderson (engineering); EnviroCentre (environmental) and Drives Jonas Deloitte (town planning). The planning application is scheduled for January 2011 following environmental studies, traffic assessment, design of breakwater and land based facilities and public consultation.

This project ties in with our acquisition of the 1.6-acre quayside site from Peel, which will see a mixed-use development including offices, hotel, café and chandlery.  The proposed development of a prominent area of the quayside will provide facilities which will be attractive to marina users and to the hundreds of thousands of ferry users who pass through Ardrossan each year on the way to Arran.

Overall the project will create a range of new homes for people, new commercial space, will enhance the living and working experience in the town, and will make our area even more attractive to visitors.

The announcement of the Joint Venture came in March 2010.

It is anticipated that decontamination work will begin in the Summer with the first phase of development taking place in 2011.