£15m overhaul of Ayr square could begin in early 2027

Work on a £15m overhaul of Burns Statue Square in Ayr could begin early next year, according to a new update from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA).

Detailed designs for the major town centre project are due to be presented to South Ayrshire Council this month, with construction planned to start in early 2027 if the proposals are approved.

The scheme accounts for three-quarters of the £20m secured by South Ayrshire Council through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

An update on the project is contained in ARA’s latest Improvement Action Plan, which is going before the Ayrshire Shared Services Joint Committee.

ARA says: “South Ayrshire Council successfully secured £20m from the Levelling Up Fund and ARA will deliver £15m worth of improvements to Burns Statue Square, Ayr for which detailed designs will be presented to SAC in September and if approved construction is planned to commence in early 2027.”

The report does not provide further details of the proposed design or specify how long construction is expected to take.

The remaining £5m of the Levelling Up Fund award is being used by ARA, alongside Active Travel Infrastructure Fund money, on other transport projects.

That includes a new active travel route linking Dundonald and Barassie, where work is described as nearing completion.

Improvements are also planned to the National Cycle Network 7 route between Prestwick and Barassie station, with work expected to begin later this year.

The Burns Statue Square scheme forms part of wider plans for investment in Ayr town centre.

Its move towards the construction stage comes as ARA also progresses other transport initiatives across South Ayrshire, including the continued introduction of 20mph speed limits.

The Improvement Action Plan states that phases one to three of the village 20mph programme are complete, while work is progressing in Coylton, Maybole, Barr and Pinmore following completion of the latest work in Girvan.

Ayr itself, along with Troon and Prestwick, is earmarked for consideration during a future fifth phase of that programme.

Members of the joint committee were asked to note progress against ARA’s Improvement Action Plan and continue receiving updates.