Work has officially commenced on the new state-of-the-art Ardrossan Community Campus, marking a significant milestone for the exciting development.

Contractors Morgan Sindall Construction have begun the main construction process on the site, which is set for a multi-year transformation.

The new campus is the pivotal first phase of the Ardrossan Coastal plans, a wider £170 million regeneration programme (as per North Ayrshire Council's strategic regeneration programme) that aims to completely revitalise the derelict site. Beyond the new school campus – which will integrate secondary and primary schools, a public library, and a swimming pool – the vision for the wider Ardrossan Coastal Quarter also includes new housing and commercial uses. This transformational redevelopment brings significant investment into a formerly vacant and derelict site within one of North Ayrshire's most deprived communities. The campus itself is now expected to cost over £114 million.

Prior to the main construction, extensive remediation and enabling works were carried out to ensure the site was safe and ready. Remediation, undertaken by Sanctus Ltd since last year, involved treating soil and groundwater to meet stringent UK Government Environmental Guidelines. Enabling works, carried out by RJ McLeod, included the installation of a revetment, creation of a new spine road and coastal path, and earth movement.

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The new campus is anticipated to be complete by Autumn 2027. North Ayrshire Council and Morgan Sindall Construction will provide regular updates as work progresses.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: "It's great to see Morgan Sindall Construction on site and the project moving forward. This is a huge investment into the future of our young people and wider community. A lot of work has been carried out to reach this stage and ensure the site is ready for a development of this scale. Not only are we creating a Community Campus, but also a range of other regeneration projects which will transform this derelict site and provide a major boost for the whole area. We look forward to works progressing."

The shared community facilities within the campus will include a library, learning hub, and extensive indoor sports facilities such as a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, dance studio, and fitness studio. Outdoor amenities will feature two sports pitches and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), alongside an outdoor learning landscape, recreational, and growing spaces, with associated parking and infrastructure.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, added: "It is going to be an incredible facility for our young people, and we are all very excited to be at this stage. We can all look forward to what promises to be an amazing educational facility."

Stuart Parker, Managing Director at Morgan Sindall Construction Scotland, commented: "Starting construction on the Ardrossan Community Campus marks a significant milestone for the area. The comprehensive facilities we're creating, from the schools to the library and sports spaces, will provide fantastic opportunities for local families and help revitalise the community. We're proud to be delivering this project with North Ayrshire Council through the SCAPE Scotland framework. Our focus is on delivering a facility that will serve as a hub for education and community life. This project demonstrates how thoughtful regeneration can transform a derelict site into something that will benefit the area for decades to come."

Gary Meechan, Head of Frameworks Scotland at SCAPE Scotland, also welcomed the progress, stating: "We are delighted to be supporting North Ayrshire Council on such a significant project for the community and will continue to work collaboratively with the Council and Morgan Sindall to ensure that the benefits of procurement through our Construction Framework are realised during construction."