Work is due to start on iconic projects in the regeneration of Ardrossan and Saltcoats, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has announced.

Local contractors McLaughlin Construction of Irvine will be on site from this morning at the former Jack Miller Hotel and Saltcoats station building.

The work is being undertaken after funding of almost £1.5 million was secured from the Scottish government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

The government fund is making £60m available to projects across Scotland this year. The former Jack Miller Hotel building in Ardrossan will provide office accommodation for businesses in the area.


Irvine Bay hopes to provide financial support, as part of a larger private investment, to refurbish the Harbour Bar and bring it back into use as a restaurant and bar to support the developments at the marina. In Saltcoats, the former station building will be redeveloped to provide retail space or office space and also a restaurant.

Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair of Irvine Bay, said: "Bringing these buildings back to life will make a tremendous difference to the look and feel of both Ardrossan and Saltcoats and I am delighted that we have a local contractor in place and are starting work."

Shaun McLaughlin, Director, McLaughlin Construction said: "We are delighted to have been awarded these prestigious contracts within our local area and look forward to continuing our successful working relationship with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. These contracts help us to maintain our locally based workforce together with our existing apprenticeship scheme in addition to improving the local environment for the benefit of all."

(GK/KMcA)