Getting the basics right

Successful regeneration begins with getting the fundamentals right. Creating a town centre that is safe, clean, and accessible is essential to attracting investment, supporting businesses, and encouraging people to live, work, and spend time in the town centre.

High-quality public spaces, well-maintained streets, and an inclusive environment provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth and long-term confidence. By prioritising these core principles, the masterplan aims to create the conditions necessary for future investment and lasting regeneration success.

Early impact:

Temporary urbanism uses short team low cost interventions to test ideas and bring empty or underused places back into use before permanent redevelopment.

Examples can include:

pop up retail
community gardens
outdoor seating
container cafes
food markets, mini parks, performance spaces, events-based regeneration

Our story, good news stories

Celebrating success:

By celebrating our successes, we can cultivate positive sentiments about Kilmarnock, inspiring pride in place, strengthening the town’s reputation, and encouraging people to champion Kilmarnock as a great place to live, work, visit, and invest.

Understanding town trends:

Understanding the social and economic trends within Kilmarnock Town Centre is essential to identifying where investment is most needed and the challenges that must be addressed.

These trends provide the evidence base for targeted interventions that support regeneration, strengthen the local economy, and improve the town centre’s long-term resilience.

The decline of the traditional retail core, particularly along King Street, is a key example of these challenges.

Changes in consumer behaviour, increasing vacancy rates, and reduced footfall have weakened the vitality of this important commercial area, highlighting the need to diversify uses, enhance the public realm, and encourage new forms of investment that will help re-establish the town centre as a vibrant destination.

Current trends:

Night-time economy at the Cross is increasing with businesses such as The Little Art Factory, Ayrshire Film Company and Dice Grounds opening later for classes and evening events
Titchfield Street occupancy rates increasing
High Occupancy at Foregate Shops