The regeneration of Cumnock town centre took a giant step forward this week as the planning application for a new £8m office development was lodged with East Ayrshire Council.

The new office development is the first phase of the Cumnock Town Centre Regeneration Project which aims to revitalise the town centre and re-establish Cumnock as the principal town in the southern part of East Ayrshire.

The Project aims to provide more jobs in the town centre, expand and enhance the available retail provision, enhance public realm and town centre environment, and implement an improved traffic management and parking strategy.

The development on Greenholm Road will provide quality, modern accommodation for East Ayrshire Council and partner agencies, to provide a range of services on a co-location basis. The Council have confirmed that approximately 150 employees will relocate to the new offices as part of a review of its existing office accommodation provision.

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Services moving to the Greenholm Road development include planning and building standards, community planning, libraries, roads, registrars, housing, social work and Community Learning & Development. They will be vacating a number of substandard buildings at Lugar and elsewhere in Cumnock.

Proposals contained within the office building application, which extends to 2990 square metres (32,185 sq ft), include 3 storey "L" shaped building, shared reception for all services, civic square forming the principal entrance to the building, registrars office with integrated marriage suite, a new local library and additional car parking for the office development.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: "When completed, the whole project will provide opportunities for shopping, education, leisure and recreation for the people of Cumnock and the surrounding communities. East Ayrshire Council is fully committed to the regeneration of Cumnock and the new office development is a key element of that."

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Environment & Regeneration added: "We estimate that some 70 jobs will be created on the site throughout the construction period, giving the local economy a much needed boost. Approximately 30% will be local jobs employed by local sub-contractors or direct labour."

The development is being delivered and managed as part of a joint venture partnership, with East Ayrshire Council having entered into a joint venture contract with Deanway Muir Ltd. Deanway Muir itself is the result of a partnership between Deanway Development and the Muir Group.

(GK/JM)