Ardrossan's Coastal Quarter

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

• Stakeholder questions and answers document

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 - September 2026

Works continue to go at pace and at the end of August 2026 we held our official steel signing ceremony.

Provost Anthea Dickson was the special guest and penned her signature on one of the last pieces of steel to be erected at the site.

As well as the Provost, the steel was signed by pupils from Ardrossan Academy, Winton Primary School, and the other cluster primary schools, Councillor Tony Gurney, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, and a range of partners, including construction contractors Morgan Sindall and SCAPE Scotland, who all had a part in the planning and bringing the plans for the campus to fruition.

The piece of steel will be situated near the Early Years Centre.

The new campus is expected to be occupied by August 2028 and the steel signing marks a new chapter in the delivery of the development.

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
• Ardrossan community campus newsletter - July 2026 document
• Ardrossan community campus newsletter - August 2026

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.