Five Ayrshire Towns set for Revamp
10 December 2007
The town centres of five North Ayrshire towns are set for a programme of major improvements, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company announced today.Town regeneration plans are to be developed for the five towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenson, Kilwinning and Irvine which aim to revitalise each of the town centres and help to boost the local economy.
Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay said: "The town centres in each of the five towns in the Irvine Bay area have great potential for future growth and improvement.
"We want to realise that potential and help to transform them into vibrant town centres for the benefit of local people, businesses and visitors."
He added: "The involvement and participation of local residents and the business community will be vital as we develop these plans and I would encourage people to get involved in the process as much as possible.
"We intend to have a variety of consultation sessions and will be encouraging local people to come forward with their own ideas."
In all there will be three separate town regeneration plans. One will cover the towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson, towns which locally are already called The Three Towns.
There will be a separate plan each for Irvine and Kilwinning.
The Regeneration Company has appointed three specialist Glasgow firms to assist with developing the new plans.
They are the Halcrow Group who will work on the Three Towns plan, Austin-Smith:Lord who will work on the Kilwinning Plan and BDP supported by GEN and transporation and engineering consultants WSP who will assist with the Irvine town plan.
Halcrow's Head of Regeneration Scott Davidson said: " The Halcrow team is excited at the prospect of working collaboratively with Irvine Bay, local communities and key stakeholders such as North Ayrshire Council to develop realistic and deliverable proposals for Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson.
"Our experience across Scotland in a diverse range of projects including Nairn, Stornoway and Glasgow's east end, have proven that we are adept at promoting successful regeneration schemes."
Iain Wylie , Partner of Austin-Smith:Lord said: " We are delighted to have secured this commission with Irvine Bay URC. We look forward to drawing upon our extensive local knowledge and working with the Kilwinning community to develop an innovative and inspiring vision for the town which is deliverable and sustainable.
"The success of our recent office development at Station Plaza, Kilwinning, which received a BCO Award, demonstrates the inherent potential for new development and investment within the town. We look forward to interesting discussions in the New Year with the local community and stakeholders to discuss their aspirations and build upon the aims and vision already set by the URC."
Andrew Teague, associate with BDP said: "We immediately sense that Irvine Town Centre was the biggest unrealised opportunity within 30 minutes of Glasgow containing an array of assets that is unfound in towns elsewhere. This will provide a fantastic opportunity for Irvine to blossom into a self confident town centre befitting of its community and their aspirations."
The public consultation process is expected to start early in the New Year with a series of meetings in each of the five towns and the final plans should be ready by Summer next year.
ends
For further information please contact:
Dorothy Fenwick, Communications Manager,Irvine Bay Regeneration Company
Tel: 01294 475 487. email: dfenwick@irvinebayurc.co.uk
Irvine Bay URC seeks to develop and revitalise the five coastal towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenson, Kilwinning and Irvine in North Ayrshire through a £100 million, ten year programme to boost the local economy and make the area an attractive and prosperous place to live, work and to visit. Our partners are North Ayrshire Council, Communities Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and the Scottish Government.