Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon reinforced the Scottish Government’s commitment to the regeneration of Irvine Bay when she addressed Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s first Annual Public Meeting today.
The meeting, the first public meeting Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has held since it was established just over one year ago, was attended by over 300 local residents, businesses, community groups and officials at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine.
The regeneration of Irvine Bay is set to bring new investment to five of North Ayrshire’s towns. Irvine Bay Regeneration Company is focused upon creating physical and economic improvements to the towns of Irvine, Kilwinning, Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston that will create new job opportunities, improve the quality of life and provide opportunities for future economic growth.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government is committed to the continued regeneration of Irvine Bay. We are working closely with the regeneration company as they finalise the exciting plans for the area.
“We are determined to ensure that local people can take advantage of the opportunities created by the new investment in the area and we look forward to working with the regeneration company, local partners and the community as their vision for the area is turned into reality.”
As the regeneration of Irvine Bay gathers momentum, Patrick Wiggins, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s Chief Executive said: “Our vision for Irvine Bay is to create places where people will thrive, business will flourish and communities will grow.”
At the meeting Speyroc Ltd. was announced as the preferred developer to create prestigious modern office accommodation at Annickbank on the edge of Irvine.
Patrick Wiggins, Irvine Bay, said: “This development will stimulate business and employment, creating a valuable asset for Irvine which will attract interest both from existing companies wishing to expand and from new companies wanting to set up in the area.
“Speyroc’s scheme was selected for its building design, layout and sustainability proposals. Speyroc Ltd has experience in developing similar types of office buildings elsewhere in and around Glasgow and will bring a wealth of experience to this development.”
Alexander Haig, Managing Director, Speyroc, said: “Research has shown a shortage of smaller, new office units available for both sale and lease in the area. The space has therefore been designed to be flexible both in terms of the size of tenant and the fit out required.
“Our recent Torus office building in East Kilbride achieved BREEAM* Very Good status and we are committed to build and improve on that project at Annickbank.”
Over a number of years the development will deliver around 8,000 sq m of office space on this six acre site.
Only last week Irvine Bay Regeneration Company announced Urban Splash, one of the UK’s leading developers, as its preferred partner to deliver a £70 million development set to lead the regeneration of Irvine on the west coast of Scotland.
The development is on an 11 acre site at the harbourside of the former Scottish New Town. A new community is planned consisting of some 300 homes, many affordable for first time buyers, shops, leisure facilities and commercial workspaces, expected to create some 100 construction jobs and on completion around 160 permanent and part time jobs.
Tom Bloxham, Chairman of Urban Splash addressed the meeting: “We think by focussing on quality architecture, creating a strong sense of place and by working in partnership with Irvine Bay 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.
As regeneration plans for the town centres’ in the area are being developed, Patrick Wiggins, Irvine Bay urged local communities to become involved in the consultation process: “We want to make sure that, as much as possible, people can make their own contribution to the improvements planned in their neighbourhoods.
“Consultation with local resident, businesses and public agencies will continue over the coming months. Make sure you get involved to help shape the regeneration of your towns.”
