Plans for a new culture and leisure centre for Irvine town centre has received approval from North Ayrshire Council.

The £21m centre was supported by the Council's Planning Committee who approved plans for the state-of-the-art leisure centre which will incorporate the historic B-Listed Town House and bring Irvine’s past and present together under one roof.

The new centre will provide a range of activities in one space, including high quality sports and dance facilities, swimming pool, fitness suite and café, while the Town House will become home to a range of history, arts, wedding, and tourism facilities. It will also host only one of three Family History Centres in Scotland.

The project is part of the £30m-plus regeneration of Irvine town centre, which includes the refurbishment of the Bridgegate streetscape, Bridgegate House office block and Trinity Church.

-- Advertisement --

Following a meeting with the Planning Committee, it was agreed that there is enough car parking in the town centre to meet the demands of the new facility. There are also proposals to create additional long-stay car parking and to improve parking management in the town.

The approval is subject to a number of planning conditions, however, including one related to car parking, which states that detailed proposals for a dedicated car park on East Road must be approved by the Council prior to the opening of the new centre.

Councillor Marie Burns, Cabinet Member for Economy and Employment, said: "The approval of the new culture and leisure centre is extremely significant – both in terms of developing facilities as well as attracting visitors, businesses and local people to the town centre.

"During the public consultation, we received a number of views – both in support of the plan and raising specific concerns. These have all been taken on board and will continue to be addressed.

"Now that planning permission has been granted, we can focus on making this facility something that the people of Irvine will be really proud of."

Initial work on the centre is expected to begin within the next few months, with the facility scheduled to open in the summer of 2015.

(JP/MH)