NACCO SITE TO BE CRADLE FOR NEW BUSINESSES

Published 30 Mar 2010 16:42

THE FORMER Hysters plant in Irvine is to be turned into a landmark "incubator" project aimed at providing short-term office space for fledgling businesses.

And the area which was used for the manufacture and assembly of fork-lift trucks is set to be demolished and transformed as a link to an "enhanced" beach park.

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company Chief Executive Patrick Wiggins made the announcement last week.

He told the Times the company had opted to demolish the industrial section of the former NACCO site, which they took over last summer, while retaining the office space.

"We are working with the company Real Work Skills, a training and employment charity, to bring in incubator units to create office provision," said Mr Wiggins.

The unit would provide space for up to 22 new businesses on short-term leases along with a reception area, communal meeting space, an exhibition area and a conference room. The project is being operated for the company by Real Work Skills

"It would provide new employment space and new industrial units and small workshops. It would be a case of easy in, easy out. This would be a very flexible space and would allow businesses to move in for a few weeks or a bit longer."

He added that the plan would create and "inexpensive, and supportive working space" with additional support services likely to include training, events and conferences.

"They could then move into proper office accommodation," he said, "Along with the Ayrshire Golf Course I think that this could be a real landmark project."

A service charge of £200 per office per month will be the only cost, and other than that the offices will be rent free. Offices will be made available to anybody who has not yet started a business ― provided they start trading within six months of taking up the office ― or anybody who has started a business but has not previously been in rented accommodation.

The siting of NACCO at the edge of the beach park and the new Ayrshire course is also seen as a boon, with the superfluous land possibly linked in with the park.

Mr Wiggins added: "We want to then look at how we can then used the land further in the development of the Ayrshire Golf Course. We want to see how it would fit in an enhanced beach park and how we can make greater access for the town."

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