THE Big Idea building could be brought back to life - potentially as a concert venue or brewery.

NPL Estates’ Managing Director, Simon Towers, says the company is keen to bring the ex-invention centre into use as part of the eye-watering Ayrshire Growth Deal proposals.

Since the Big Idea closed in 2003, many Irvine residents have yearned to see it restored to its former glory as a music venue.

And although plans are in their infancy, the company are exploring all possibilities for the building.

Mr Towers said: “You look at the building itself and it’s a concrete construction, it’s very durable, it’s stood here empty for the last 10 years or so and hasn’t suffered too much for that.

“We think it would be better for the project to retain this building within it. The precise use of which is still being looked at and the decision is yet to be made.

“We have thought around a concert venues, arts facility and even a microbrewery and being a liker of beer, I quite like that!”

He added: “The studies we’ve looked at both in Scotland and in the UK and Europe for that matter, if you have a significant arts facility in an area the footfall increases massively and we’ve seen that on a number of new art galleries in the UK.

“It would be remiss of us not to consider putting some of that thought process into the Irvine Harbourside and Ardeer project.

“Quite how we define that yet, is a bit too early but it will be a component I feel sure of that.”