Bridgegate House refurbishment, Irvine

Plans to improve the central Bridgegate area in Irvine are underway.

The refurbishment of Bridgegate House will involve a facelift for the property, radically altering the look of this building and creating a more contemporary feel to this area of Irvine's shopping centre.

Ian Springford Associates have created a design to transform the exterior of Bridgegate House.

Two designs were considered by North Ayrshire Council, both transforming the look of Bridgegate House, creating an appearance which is more in keeping with the scale of the surrounding buildings.

North Ayrshire Council opted for a new glazed look for the fascia of  Bridgegate House, replacing the existing frontage with a cleaner, brighter and more modern look. The frame of the building will extend down to street level in columns, creating a walkway in front of shops.

The shop fronts will be refurbished, and there is potential for a feature meeting area or café at the far end of the pedestrianised Bridgegate area.

Joint funding of £3.3 million has been identified for the refurbishment works with North Ayrshire Council investing £2.5 million and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company investing a further £0.8 million.