COUNCIL chiefs have given the go-ahead to the first phase of the new £3million Quarry Road development.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, North Ayrshire Council were asked to agree to a £3million first phase of the proposed Business and Sports Village centre.

The first phase will see state-of-the-art office space and a Business Gateway Centre, comprising meeting rooms and incubator office space, developed.

This stage will also create road and path access to the site, parking and landscaping and the provision of land to allow the expansion of the Irvine Gymnastics Club.

The design will allow for future expansion of the office facility if required.

The council are pressing ahead with the proposals after the Scottish Government confirmed in March they will commit £965,000 to the project.

The funding from the Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund was awarded following strong competition from projects across Scotland and a recommendation by an investment panel appointed by Cosla.

If planning approval is then granted, work could begin on the site in early 2017.

The second phase comprises a sports and community element which would provide an indoor 3 or 4G football arena, changing facilities for both the new facility and the recreation park, playing fields, and space for local community groups.

The overall project for Quarry Road is part of the Council’s vision for Irvine Town Centre and will build on the positive momentum seen in the delivery of projects such as The Portal, Bridgegate House and Public Realm, and Trinity Church.

The development is expected to create 19 FTE jobs and 90 construction jobs.

The proposals will open up a key edge of town centre site for additional development opportunities in the long term which could include amongst others a cinema, commercial leisure, office, retail and residential development.

Councillor Marie Burns, Cabinet Member for Economy and Employment, said: “This is another massive step forward for us and these are incredibly exciting times for the people of North Ayrshire.

“The council has made the case for and been successful in securing a number of funding awards for economic growth in recent months including funding for vacant and derelict land, transport, outdoor access and building conservation. ”

As well the £965,000 from the Regeneration Capital Fund, the Council will receive £600,000 from the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and £400,000 from Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Funding.

The remaining £1million will come from the Council’s Town Centre Regeneration Capital Fund.