Kilmarnock Town Centre started the new year with a new look, after the date of 6 January 2021 was set for the start of a project which will transform the bottom end of King Street, opening up space beside the Kilmarnock Water to create an exciting new outdoor area for public use.
One of Scotland’s leading demolition specialists, Caskie Ltd, was appointed to carry out the 20 week job, which saw the removal of the former Mothercare building on the corner of King Street and St Marnock Street.
The company started the demolition works on 6 January 2021, with the surrounding pavement closed to allow erection of scaffolding. The demolition works started on 11 January 2021, with painstaking manual removal of the upper two floors, followed by mechanical demolition to the ground floor.
For health and safety reasons, Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) oversaw a programme of partial road closures, which was managed to minimise traffic disruption as far as possible. These were widely advertised in local media and social media and on the East Ayrshire Council and ARA websites.
Reports
Working in partnership
The demolition of the row of shops, which housed various retailers, including Mothercare, started in January 2021.
121-135 King Street is now demolished and now you will see a previously unexposed gable end and new turf on the site.
The site will be maintained for up to a year.
In the meantime, East Ayrshire Council, Celebrate Kilmarnock and the Kilmarnock Business association have been working together on preparations to transform this site into a high quality green space for the community.
Through a variety of different conversations, Celebrate Kilmarnock have helped to identify your priorities for the town centre.
We have worked with erz Ltd designs, who have brought these ideas together and produced concept designs for St Marnock Square (PDF 13.92Mb).
But we aren’t done yet…
Project updates
Landscaping of St Marnock Square
Download the plans below to see the proposed architectural designs on landscaping the square:
Mural on newly exposed gable end
Meet the artist and find out about the mural at St Marnock Square.
Interim arrangements and access road
Work is progressing well as we continue with the redevelopment of 121-135 King Street, Kilmarnock.
Contractors, Hamilton Tarmac, appointed by Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA), are building an access lane, which will service the tenants and owners of nearby businesses.
The contractors are also building a path on a diagonal desire line through the site from St Marnock Street to Titchfield Street.
The layout
This path will be well lit and furnished with planters, benches and tables.
We will also be installing additional CCTV to extend existing coverage throughout the new area.
Once completed, by the first week in September 2021, you will be able to freely wander through the site and enjoy the land where the 19th century King Street Church once stood, until it was demolished in the mid 20th century. You'll also be following in the footsteps of Lady Ann Livingston Boyd, Countess of Kilmarnock whose story is depicted in the St Marnock Square Mural.
The future
The current footpath and its furniture is a temporary, short-term measure to provide some amenities while longer term plans to transform the site are developed.
These plans have been co-produced with Faithful and Gould, project management company, Wardell and Armstrong, Landscape Architect and the St Marnock Square project team, Celebrate Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock Business association and East Ayrshire Leisure in conjunction with extensive and continuous engagement with the people of Kilmarnock.
Features of the high quality green space and plaza will include innovative rain gardens, remote power supplies, diverse plant life and vegetation, a performance space, attractive and inviting places to sit.
Work has started with an anticipated completion date by the end of 2022.
Celebrate Kilmarnock
Celebrate Kilmarnock has been leading the public engagement on the site.
Visit the Celebrate Kilmarnock website or contact hello@celebratekilmarnock.com.
Photos and videos
Follow Love Local East Ayrshire Instagram Gallery for regular updates on regeneration projects in East Ayrshire.
St Marnock Square project video
The St Marnock Square project, right in the heart of Kilmarnock, has been transformed into a multifunctional green space for all to enjoy.
Photos and demolition videos
GeewhizDigital Photography visited during the demolition works to record the progress. You can see their amazing drone photography and video footage at the following links:
To view more photos of the regeneration work in East Ayrshire please visit our Love Local East Ayrshire Instagram Gallery.
Media releases
How to get involved
As the journey continues we are inviting you to get involved in the future of the site and the town centre. Contact hello@celebratekilmarnock.com and we can chat.
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