Saltcoats Regeneration Project Gets Underway
A regeneration project, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord on behalf of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council, to enhance Saltcoats Town Centre, North Ayrshire, and help boost the town’s economy is now underway.
Austin-Smith:Lord is leading the design team on the Saltcoats Town Centre Public Realm project which will create a new, improved public realm on Countess Street, the strategic artery which links the town’s main railway station on Vernon Street with a key retail area on Dockhead Street.
As well as linking the railway station, retail area and seafront, the enhancements to this ‘gateway’ street will create an improved environment for the Town Hall.
A feature of Countess Street since the 1890’s, the Town Hall reopened in early 2016 as a vibrant new community and civic hub following a £3.7m redevelopment.
The Saltcoats Town Centre Public Realm project is part of the Saltcoats Town Regeneration Plan, which is, in turn, part of the visionary masterplan for the five towns making up the Irvine Bay area.
Councillor Jim Montgomerie, local member for the Saltcoats and Stevenston ward and Cabinet Member for Place, said: “These public realm works mark another major milestone in a vitally-important regeneration project for the town of Saltcoats.
“The town hall and Countess Street are central to the history of the town, and their revival is something the local community has long wished to see.
“It’s been wonderful to witness the heart of the town being returned to its former glory – the town hall is once again bustling with activity and has quickly become a popular and stunning wedding venue.
“The new public realm works on Countess Street will enhance the environment outside the town hall and we all look forward to seeing these improvements progressing.”
Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, added: “We are delighted this project is now underway. This kind of public realm work brings genuine improvements and significant opportunities, as evidenced by the positive impact of work in both Kilwinning and Irvine. Irvine Bay continues to work with its partners to deliver a strong and lasting legacy of improved physical infrastructure for the five towns, along with job creation and increased business opportunities.”
Siobhan Vernon, Associate at Austin-Smith:Lord, concluded: “We are proud to be working with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council on creating this high quality public realm which will help animate Saltcoats town centre to the benefit of local citizens, businesses and visitors now and into the future.”
The new convivial urban space which will feature high quality public realm, streetscape and lighting improvements, will encourage community and civic activity, support the increased footfall to the newly refurbished Town Hall and create an attractive setting for weddings and other events set within the revitalised building.
The project, which was informed by a local consultation, will also benefit the retail, office, leisure and residential inhabitants of Countess Street.
Building upon the success of the initial phase of regeneration activity associated with the Town Hall and the refurbishment of the old station building on Vernon Street, the project will take approximately 26 weeks to construct and is expected to complete in Spring 2017.
The full team includes:
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: Harley Haddow
Civil & Structural Engineers: Harley Haddow
Cost Consultant: Neilson Partnership
Transport Consultant: Transport Planning Ltd
Art Strategy: WaveParticle
Main Contractor: Land Engineering
