09-05-2025
Ayr town centre set to receive £16 million facelift from Levelling Up funding
South Ayrshire Council has been awarded £16 million by the UK Government as part of their Levelling Up Fund.
Ayr town centre is set for a £16 million investment after South Ayrshire Council were awarded Levelling Up funding from the UK Government.
Burns Statue Square could now see a range of improvements over the next few years after the funding was secured.
Three main streams for developing the town centre square have already been identified including the general regeneration of the area, a shopfront improvement scheme and an active travel route linking the town centre with Prestwick Airport.
South Ayrshire Council aim to start construction work in summer 2026 and it is hoped the project could be completed by summer 2028.
Detailed proposal are being drawn up and include plans for new public spaces, events areas and information points.
Businesses on Burns Statue Square and within the town centre could also benefit from the scheme to help revitalise tired shopfronts.
A number of public consultations on the plans are set to take place over the next year once more detailed plans have been announced.
Cllr Bob Shields, South Ayrshire Council's portfolio holder for developing South Ayrshire, said: 'We need to make more of this part of Ayr. There has been some progress with the new Astoria Cinema generating footfall and we need to build on this momentum.
'We will be looking at how traffic currently accesses the town, we'll also be promoting active travel and how we can work with partners to develop a transport interchange where trains, buses, and taxis could all operate from one central location.'
