Bridgegate public realm

A comprehensive programme of public realm and streetscape improvements is now complete, transforming the Bridgegate area of Irvine's town centre.

The steps of Trinity Church are lit

Margaret Burgess MSP, Minister for Housing and Welfare holds aloft her miniature Trinity Mirror at the launch of Bridgegate

Bridgegate public ream

New paving and seating

New lighting features at Trinity Church

New lighting features at Bridgegate

'A Line Runs Through It' artwork on the Bridgegate

Bridgegate House and Bridgegate public realm are complete

Aspire public artwork, Bridgegate

High level view of the new public realm works

The redevelopment continues

Apprentice at work on Bridgegate

The public realm around Trinity Church is being regenerated

Bridgegate during works

During redevelopment

Work continues on the public realm in tandem with the refurbishment of Bridgegate House

Artist impression of Bridgegate

Artist impression of Trinity Church and Mirror at the new Bridgegate

Bridgegate will soon have a new look

Bridgegate in Irvine before redevelopment

Bridgegate before refurbishment

Bridgegate in Irvine before redevelopment

Ayrshire-based Land Engineering began work on the £2.2 million programme of regeneration works in July 2012. The programme of regeneration work took around 16 months to complete. There was a break over the Christmas period 2012 to minimise the impact on local shops and shoppers. Work was completed in November 2013.

The project, in the centre of Irvine, is part of the Irvine town centre regeneration plan.

The aims for this project are to:

Re-establish the area as a landmark location for Irvine town centre and the wider area
Act as a catalyst for the economic and social regeneration of the town centre
Provide a high quality, innovative design solution that becomes recognised as a future destination in itself,

Contemporary design and construction thinking have been integrated into every aspect of the project, including hard and soft landscaping, signage, lighting, street furniture and wider urban design/landscape features. Major public art was commissioned from artist Peter McCaughey. The Trinity Mirror, the central focus in the public art programme has now been installed and other elements are complete.

Austin-Smith:Lord were the architects for this project, working with Irvine Bay and North Ayrshire Council to deliver the exciting vision for this key site.

The total cost of the project was £2.2m.

Awards

We are delighted that the redevelopment of the Bridgegate has attracted recognition, with several different accolades being award in the course of the year:

BALI National Landscape Award awarded to Land Engineering for the redevelopment of the Bridgegate in Irvine.
Town Centre Regeneration Project of the Year in the Scottish Property Awards.
Shortlisted for the Royal Town Planning Institute Award for Excellence in planning and design for the public realm – open to projects from throughout the UK
Shortlisted for the Scottish Design Awards in the Architecture, Public Realm and Landscaping category.

Listening to your views

A successful 'pop-up-shop' provided a place for over 500 people to share their views on the plans. The shop ran for two days in October 2011 at unit 2b, The Bridgegate (formerly the Stationary Box).

Over Christmas 2012 work ceased for several weeks to allow for the busy Christmas shopping season. this helped to ensure that footfall returned to the level anticipated during this vital period for town centre businesses.