Irvine’s old Harbourmaster’s Office is expected to receive funds for a spruce up in hopes the building can be brought back to life.

Improvement works have now been agreed for the building on Irvine’s Harbourside as part of North Ayrshire Council’s £1,323,000 derelict land spending plans.

Meeting papers state council chiefs hope the derelict building could eventually be offered up to the private sector for use.

Funding £50,000 was set for surveys, and works to improve the C-listed building and allow designs, planning consent and marketing with a view to securing private sector operator interest.

Chief executive Craig Hatton approved submitting the local delivery plan for the funds to the Scottish Government.

Mairi Craw, the late author of novels Beyond the Hedge and Between Two Worlds and daughter of former Harbourmaster Ralph Henderson, previously campaigned to see the building restored as a ‘vibrant part of the community’.

The building currently sits in a poor condition on Irvine’s Harbourside covered in vegetation growth.

  *******************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We’re not exaggerating when we say that the future of the Irvine Times, and the vital local news service we’ve provided since 1873, is under threat.

Please consider supporting the Irvine Times in whatever way you can – by paying just 90p for a copy of the paper, when you’re shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition here.

Thanks – and stay safe.