Progress made to demolish fire-damaged Forum building

Significant progress has been made in the ongoing operation to demolish the fire‑damaged Forum Centre in Irvine.

Contractors working on behalf of North Ayrshire Council have been carefully dismantling the building following the major fire in early February.

Recent high winds have slowed the process however, work will continue over the coming weeks to make the structure safe and secure the surrounding area.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “This is a complex and delicate operation due to the severe fire damage, particularly the twisted and melted steelwork. These sections must be removed manually and with great precision.

“To do this safely, workers using cutting equipment are suspended in a specially-designed platform attached to one of the two on‑site cranes. The second crane provides stability by securely supporting the steel sections while they are removed.

“For safety reasons, crane operations must stop when wind speeds exceed strict limits, which has resulted in some unavoidable delays. Despite this, work is being progressed as quickly as conditions safely allow.

“Road restrictions will be removed once crane operations are complete and our Building Standards Team confirms that the risk posed by the damaged structure has been reduced or removed.

“We appreciate that the road closure is disruptive for residents, businesses and visitors, and we thank everyone for their patience. These precautions are essential to ensure the area can be made safe and without compromising public safety.”

“Although the damaged buildings are privately owned, the Council has a statutory obligation to make the area safe. We also recognise the importance of this site to the wider regeneration of Irvine town centre and have taken the lead in coordinating the recovery effort.”

The two public car parks on West Road will remain closed for now and will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

Published: 20 March 2026