IRVINE Harbourside is officially one of the greatest places in Britain.

The picturesque beauty spot was one of three finalists in the The Academy of Urbanism’s Great Place Award category.

The award recognises the community led regeneration taking place at the area, the great variety of cultural activities taking place, the amenity and local character, environmental sustainability and the extensive community engagement that’s taken place.

At a ceremony in London on Friday night it was revealed that Irvine Harbourside lost out to the peace Bridge in Londonderry coming joint runner-up with the Scald Lane Bridge in Hull.

Irvine Burns Club has spearheaded the redevelopment of the area, working with North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay, and has been successful in attracting Heritage Lottery Funding for a Harbourside Heritage Trail, involving local schools, businesses and community groups.

Despite the slight disappointment in losing out on the top prize, the Harbourside Heritage group say the honour of being nominated and making it to the final three was amazing in itself.

Ian Dickson of Irvine Burns Club Harbourside Heritage project said for the area to even be recognised is a huge achievement.

He told the Times: “Although our category was won by the Peace Bridge in Derry, the tremendous cooperation between many Irvine organisations, including Irvine Burns Club Harbourside Heritage project, and North Ayrshire Council, was recognised and appreciated by the assessors.”

The ceremony took place in the Great Connaught Rooms in London on Friday, November 6 and saw Harbourside Heritage project members Gordon Bain, Marion Francis, Louise Dickson, Ian Dickson and George Hunter attending to receive a Finalist’s Certificate.

The rejuvenation of the harbourside has been ongoing for a number of years and as well as an overhaul of the area has also resulted in the creation of a special website, www.irvineharbourside.org site.

The mobile-friendly site includes a feature on the Scots words recently set in the paving, biographies of the individuals commemorated by the blue plaques, detailed accounts of the Harbour Street inhabitants over 150 years, a panorama of its buildings, and much material on harbour history, some never before published.