South Ayrshire Council has been awarded £16 million from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund to spearhead a significant transformation project centred on Burns Statue Square in Ayr.

The funding will support the development of proposals focusing on three key themes: the comprehensive regeneration of Burns Statue Square, a scheme to improve shopfronts, and the creation of an active travel route connecting Ayr town centre with Prestwick Airport.

For Burns Statue Square, emerging details suggest plans for new public spaces, dedicated event areas, and information points designed to enhance the area's appeal and functionality. Businesses located on the square and within the wider town centre are also set to benefit from a proposed scheme aimed at revitalising tired and outdated shopfronts.

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Councillor Bob Shields, Portfolio Holder for Developing South Ayrshire, commented on the plans: "We need to make more of this part of Ayr. There has been some progress with the new Astoria Cinema generating footfall and we need to build on this momentum."

He elaborated on the scope of the project: "We will be looking at how traffic currently accesses the town, we'll also be promoting active travel and how we can work with partners to develop a transport interchange where trains, buses, and taxis could all operate from one central location."

The council has outlined a timeline for public engagement, with a number of consultations on the plans scheduled for this year (2025) and next year (2026). Subject to these consultations and subsequent approvals, construction work is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026. The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete, with a target completion date in 2028.