TranslateArdrossan's Coastal Quarter
Ardrossan’s transformation has begun. The next ten years will see almost £200 million invested. The transformation project will capitalise on the beauty of Ardrossan's coastal location. This nationally significant regeneration project will deliver:
- a major centre for lifelong learning and academic excellence
- a revitalised tourism destination
- improved travel connectivity
- an attractive location for future development opportunities
The ambitious plans will bring economic growth, job opportunities and prosperity.
The ground preparation phase has now concluded. Remediation works at the Ardrossan Coastal Quarter site involved the treatment of soil and groundwater to meet the highest standards according to the UK Government Environmental Guidelines. It also involved the creation of a revetment, creation of a new spine road and coastal path, earth movement and other works to ensure the site is ready for the development of the new community campus.
Further information on the ground preparation works is provided below:
Validation reports
- Validation Report part 1 document
- Validation Report part 2 document
- Validation Report part 3 document
- Validation Report part 4 document
- Validation Report part 5 document
- Validation Report part 6 document
- Validation Report part 7 document
- Validation Report part 8 document
- Validation Report part 9 document
- Validation Report part 10 document
- Validation Report part 11 document
- Validation Report part 12 document
- Validation Report part 13 document
- Validation Report part 14 document
Remediation strategy and appendices
The Remediation Strategy and it's Appendices are included in parts 2 and 3 of the validation report above.
Site investigative report and appendices
- Interpretative report
- Interpretative report: Appendix A
- Interpretative report: Appendix B
- Interpretative report: Appendix C
- Interpretative report: Appendix D
- Interpretative report: Appendix E
Stakeholder documents
Economic regeneration will be achieved through private investment, as the coastal location is attractive and suitable for a variety of uses for example hotel, restaurant and retail use. This will bring employment, investment, and increased leisure opportunities to the area.
The community campus is the most significant school investment in North Ayrshire’s history. Created from the closure and merger of Ardrossan Academy and Winton Primary School and Early Years Class, the shared community facilities will include:
- a library and learning hub
- a sports hall, gym, and swimming pools
- dance and fitness studios
- two full-sized outdoor sport pitches
- a multi-use games area
Works will develop the disused former Shell site, approximately 7.5ha in area. Before the first bricks are laid, extensive remediation works will be carried out.
Plans will see the construction of a Community Campus with early years, primary and secondary provision including the Astra base, a specialist unit for learners with autism. There will be an outdoor learning landscape with recreational growing spaces, parking and infrastructure.
Stakeholder meeting March 2024 - transport assessment presentation document.
Campus buildings
JM Architects have designed a facility that:
- serves learners, staff and the community
- fits with the council's drive towards becoming net zero
North Ayrshire Council confirmed it had appointed contractor Morgan Sindall to complete the design of the new campus facility.
Designed to be highly energy-efficient, Ardrossan Community Campus will have an emphasis on user health and wellbeing.
North Ayrshire Council has appointed contractor Morgan Sindall to complete the design. With experience in delivering Learning Education Investment Programme projects, they have recently completed Maybole Campus for South Ayrshire Council.
You can visit Morgan Sindall Construction website, to access our Community campus project progress.
Campus update - 1 October
Construction work at Ardrossan Community Campus continues at pace, to build a modern community facility which the town of Ardrossan and beyond so richly deserves.
Work currently includes deep excavations to create trenches for drainage and utilities and for the six-lane 25 metre swimming pool.
A known risk associated with this work, and one which has previously been reported, was the possibility of discovering more soil contaminants given the depth of excavations.
North Ayrshire Council and contractor Morgan Sindall work to an agreed remediation strategy which follows strict health and safety legislation. This strategy involves rigorous testing of soil as it is excavated. During this deep excavation work, traces of asbestos were identified. Specialist asbestos contractors will be commissioned to remove the contaminated soil in accordance with health and safety protocols. Air tests have been undertaken to provide confidence that there is no risk of airborne exposure.
The Campus Team has robust processes in place to deal with such incidents, which ensures the safety of the construction workforce and the wider public.
Once the deep excavation work is completed the 600mm stone capping layer will be replaced which will cover and seal the soil and further reassurance air tests will be undertaken to ensure the health and safety of all future users of the site.
Community campus newsletters
Construction newsletters will be updated on a monthly basis for the project, to help update the local community.
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - June 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - July 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - August 2025
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - September 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - October 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - November 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - December 2025 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - January 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - February 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - March 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - April 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - May 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus community update - May 2026 document
- Ardrossan community campus newsletter - June 2026 document
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the Scottish Government's ferries and port asset owners is engaging with Peel Ports Group, owners of the harbour area, to pursue a change of ownership.
Following constructive negotiations, Heads of terms have been exchanged and are being refined. Both parties have appointed lawyers with a target of concluding negotiations over the purchase with the aim of concluding before the end of 2025.
This follows a review of the Ardrossan Harbour project in late 2024 with the key points now being discussed including the condition of physical assets, leases, access rights, and the process for transfer of Statutory Harbour Authority responsibilities.
Scottish Government funding is allocated within the 2025 to 2026 budget to facilitate the acquisition of the harbour, noting that any expenditure is subject to detailed legal, commercial and financial due diligence.
The project provides opportunity for development of private and social housing. Plans for the North Shore site suggests there is capacity for 150 houses.
Proposals for private residential use will consider the appropriate delivery model. This will be in the form of involvement with the private sector. It will include how to secure design and community wealth building outcomes. Private residential use will be located to the north of the community campus. It is likely to be developed following the construction of the campus.
Proposals for social housing use will be located to the east of the community campus. This is around the entrance to the site from Montgomerie Pier Road and Barr Street.
The International Marine Science and Environmental (IMSE) project will develop and capture innovation in marine sciences; marine spatial planning and marine technology and ensure that the Firth of Clyde is recognised as an exemplar in marine sustainability.
As the project has evolved, it has pivoted and will now be based across Cumbrae and Arran to build upon the marine research and development activity already taking place on these islands.
Working with project partners in the Field Studies Council (Millport), COAST (Arran) and the University of Stirling, IMSE will open the region up to opportunities which advance discovery and develop marine education and training.
The Ardrossan Low Carbon Hub has now been completed. The project secured funding from Transport Scotland's Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund to improve local active travel routes and install low carbon transport facilities in Ardrossan. This included:
- electric vehicle charging hubs at Ardrossan Harbour and Ardrossan South Beach
- cycle hubs at Ardeer and Ardrossan South beach with ebike charging, cycle storage, and bike maintenance equipment
- Active Travel information and signage
This has created 1km of new and upgraded paths, creating a more cohesive, attractive and accessible town path network.
The Ayrshire Growth Deal Marine Tourism Programme has been refocussed and is now a place-based tourism project with two component the first is located on the Isle of Cumbrae, the second on Arran. The original proposition was to develop an extension of the existing Ardrossan Marina. However, as with many major capital projects across the country, construction inflation and supply chain issues have impacted the ability to deliver the ambitions of this project. As such, this element of the Ardrossan Coastal Quarter will not be taken forward at this time.
For the latest updates on Ardrossan's Coastal Quarter, visit our News section or the Community campus section of this page where you will find monthly update newsletters of construction progress.