Work to demolish the empty retail units that occupy the 1.2-acre riverside site has begun. The new development will regenerate the land between the medieval Auld Brig and the Victorian New Bridge in Ayr to provide a new waterfront for the town and provide office space for around 350 workers.
Plans for the new development were kick-started by local regeneration group Ayr Renaissance last year after it submitted a proposal for a mixed use development featuring housing, office space, retail units, cafes and public areas.
Architect Keppie Design has created the plan for the new office development.
Councillor Peter Henderson, South Ayrshire Council鈥檚 portfolio holder for resources and performance, said it was encouraging to see the development gather momentum. 鈥淲ith the contractor and design team now in place we can start to bring together concrete plans to breathe new life into this landmark project. Work on site is already making a real difference to the local landscape with the old buildings on High Street now largely demolished, revealing the true scale of the project that will, in time, transform an historic area of Ayr鈥檚 town centre.鈥�
Stuart Parker, Morgan Sindall鈥檚 managing director of construction in Scotland, said: 鈥淗aving been appointed as a Tier One contractor on the Hub South West framework last year, we鈥檙e obviously very proud that the first project we鈥檝e been selected to deliver through it is such a significant one. South Ayrshire Council鈥檚 ambitious masterplan is set to transform the town centre, providing much-needed regeneration.
鈥淎s the anchor development, the commercial office space will be sympathetic to Ayr鈥檚 historic architecture, while providing a modern workplace to support 350 jobs. It will also be the foundation for subsequent retail, residential and outdoor space which will play an important role in the town鈥檚 future, and be enjoyed for generations to come.鈥�
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