Ambitious regeneration plans gain Board approval
Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has approved ambitious plans for the next two years to be delivered to help transform the area.
The company and North Ayrshire Council have announced the intention to transfer responsibility for the continued regeneration of the Irvine Bay area from the Regeneration Company to the Council’s Economic Growth Service March 2017.
This is due to changes to the national policy and funding environment for regeneration - together with the Council’s strengthening capacity and commitment to economic development
Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said the legacy business plan had been approved by the regeneration company’s Board. It is proposed that IBRC will continue to be core funded and supported by the Council for the next two years to deliver significant regeneration for the area during the wind-down phase, including:
- The continued promotion of i3 – Irvine’s Enterprise Area - including capital investment to provide appropriate commercial property stock and build on the positive momentum already seen at the site
- The delivery of several major town centre public realm projects, and
- The implementation of a number of community legacy initiatives
In addition, it is proposed that the Council will pursue the acquisition of key strategic pockets of land from IBRC to allow continued regeneration activity to take place.
Patrick Wiggins said: “The commitment of funding until March 2017 means that we will be able to deliver an ambitious business plan. We will then pass on the baton for economic regeneration fully to the Council, to take things on and build on the work carried out to date.
"Meantime we will continue to do what we do, delivering key projects to ensure we leave behind a positive legacy for the people of the area.”
Councillor Marie Burns, Cabinet Member for Economy and Employment said: “Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has achieved great success since it was established in 2006 and that’s reflected in the number of jobs they’ve created and all the businesses and community groups they’ve supported over the years. The growing strength of the Council’s Economic Growth Service puts us in a really strong position to progress these changes in the delivery of regeneration.
She added: "We have a great relationship with the team at Irvine Bay and have learned a lot from the work they’ve carried out. We hope to support them over the next two years and then take on the baton for regeneration with commitment and determination.”