Integrated Urban Development Plan (pdf) - Make It Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock 

Integrated Urban Development Plan 

make it kilmarnock

Make it Kilmarnock 

Planning and Economic Development 

East Ayrshire Council 

The Johnnie Walker Bond 

15 Strand Street 


KA1 1HU 

Kilmarnock Town Centre 

Integrated Urban Development Plan - final report 

november 2011 

Kevin Murray Associates 

Willie Miller Urban Design 

Nick Wright Planning 

Hamilton-Baillie Associates 

Slims Consulting 

The Burrell Company

place momentum study team: 

Jas Atwal 

Ben Hamilton-Baillie 

Andrew Burrell 

Chris Brody 

Willie Miller 

Kevin Murray 

Ines Triebel 

Nick Wright 

Kilmarnock Town Centre 

Integrated Urban Development Plan - final report 

contents 

executive summary ? 

This Integrated Urban Development Plan has been prepared in 

collaboration with agencies, politicians, businesses and citizens 

of Kilmarnock as acting as consultees, advisors, critics and 

energisers. Particular thanks are due to Lawrence Wyper and 

Mark Greaves. 

A full list of participants and consultees is provided at Appendix 1. 

1 introduction and process 1 

2 issues, challenges and assets 5 

3 vision and strategy 19 

4 proposals 25 

5 benefits 47 

6 next steps 49 

appendix 1 - list of consultees 53 

appendix 2 - consultation elements 55

KILMARNOCK - INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN 

1 - introduction and process 

King Street 

Kilmarnock is at a crossroads - a pivotal period of change 

that so many former industrial towns and cities have 

experienced in recent times. It is important that the correct 

steps are taken to guide its future direction as an attractive 

and liveable town. 

Kilmarnock has suffered its fair share of setbacks. The 

forthcoming closure of the Johnnie Walker bottling plant 

in 2012 is the latest in a series of high-profile closures over 

the last 40 years, including Stoddart Carpets, Saxone and 

Massey-Ferguson. It is undoubtedly an economic blow for 

the town. 

However, with many assets to its name, Kilmarnock is also a 

justifiably proud town. The grand vista of John Finnie Street 

and the character of Bank Street; a string of fine parkland 

through Howard Park, Kay Park and Dean Park; and the 

cultural assets of the Dick and the Palace Theatre, to name 

but a few. Wedded to these physical assets is another less 

tangible, but no less important, asset: the pride, spirit and 

energy of the people of Kilmarnock. 

Kilmarnock’s location and role within the wider strategic 

context is also important. Historically, the town was part 

of the manufacturing engine room that was the West of 

Scotland, producing a range of goods that were shipped 

around the Empire. Whilst engineering is still present in the 

town – Mahle and Barclays are two prominent examples – the 

strategic role of Kilmarnock is shifting. The M77 means that 

Kilmarnock is now more a part of metropolitan Glasgow 

than ever before, with a new economic relationship with the 

city based in part around its growing role as an affordable 

commuter town. 

This is an opportune time to think about the future, and plan 

not only how the extensive Diageo site may best contribute 

to the town’s resurgence, but also how the wider town 

should prepare itself for the future. 

NOVEMBER 2011 | KEVIN MURRAY ASSOCIATES | 1

Any vision and proposals for change must be couched in 

terms of realism, as this study takes place at a time of 

deep economic uncertainty. The country has been in the 

grip of a severe economic downturn since 2008. Property 

development remains sluggish and public spending is being 

reduced, a trend which is almost certain to continue in the 

short to medium term. In summary, the immediate context 

is characterised by uncertainty and difficulty in securing 

investment. 

The vision and proposals put forward in this report 

must respond realistically and sensitively to the limited 

possibilities of the moment, yet also set positive aspirations 

as longer term goals of investment and change. 

It is important to emphasise that this plan is an integrated 

urban development plan, that connects across a number of 

sectors, seeking a transformative impact from lots of smaller 

scale actions. 

future development, whilst also addressing employment, 

retail, education, cultural, living and visitor perspectives. 

Community engagement has been an important part of 

preparing the IUDP. 

The brief required that the IUDP 

• should identify key development opportunity sites, and 

• put forward development and place-making principles 

to guide planning policy and design frameworks for the 

town centre. 

• promote high quality “place-making”, recognising the 

unique qualities of Kilmarnock and enhancing the 

town’s built environment and public spaces by setting 

out principles to create a more lively, attractive, healthy 

and sustainable town. 

detail of the Clydesdale bank building on East George Street 

aims of the plan 

The Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP) for 

Kilmarnock was commissioned by the Make it Kilmarnock 

Board and in the autumn of 2010, and funded by East Ayrshire 

Council and Diageo. Its focus was on the central area of 

the town, in and around the town centre, and including 

the Diageo site. The aim is to address the immediate and 

forthcoming needs of the town, both for residents, but also 

for business and visitors, by generating a forward-looking, 

yet deliverable vision. It replaces the Kilmarnock Town Centre 

Strategy produced in 2005. 

The Plan is the result of intensive discussion and analysis 

in late 2010 and early 2011 about the future of the town. 

The objective of the vision is to chart a viable future for the 

town and its centre, creating a revitalised heart and soul 

by using Kilmarnock’s rich heritage as a springboard for 

2 | MAKE IT KILMARNOCK BOARD | EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL


The emphasis of the study is, therefore, on future physical 

and spatial change. However, during the course of the study, 

particularly through engaging with local residents and 

businesses, it became clear that physical change should run 

alongside and support economic and social change. This 

plan therefore aims to integrate economic and social action 

with physical interventions. 

the gushet building at the corner of Garden Street and West George Street 

The IUDP is intended to link with the statutory planning 

system by contributing to the forthcoming Local 

Development Plan, as well as other public and private policy 

initiatives. 

approach to the IUDP 

The Kilmarnock IUDP had to be prepared in a very contracted 

timespan through winter, while engaging with business and 

the community. The process of preparing this plan is made up 

of two simple phases. 

The first phase of analysis included engaging with a wide 

cross-section of people in Kilmarnock to understand their 

aspirations and concerns. We made contact with over 

450 people from businesses, schools, neighbourhoods, 

shoppers, visitors, youth groups, public agencies and social 

enterprises. Some people gave us their thoughts in a short 

conversation on a street corner; others took part in in-depth 

workshop discussions. 

Taken together, they provided a wealth of information from 

different perspectives about how the town and its centre, 

particularly, functions both physically and socially. It also 

allowed us to understand people’s concerns about the town, 

and their aspirations for its future. 

In parallel with those engagement discussions, the study 

team undertook analysis of the town’s economy and physical 

environment, and took time to understand the wide range 


of other initiatives happening in the town. Chapter 2 of this 

report summarises the issues, challenges and aspirations 

that emerged from that first phase of the study. 

recessionary context. The draft proposals were tested in two 

workshops in early March 2011, with participants from public 

agencies, businesses and community groups. 

The second phase was to generate a vision and action 

proposals as a response to the issues, challenges and 

aspirations. How should the town, and particularly the town 

centre, evolve to become more lively, attractive, healthy 

and sustainable? The second phase involved developing a 

coherent vision and proposals to address the challenge in a 

Chapters 3 and 4 map out that vision and proposals, and 

chapter 5 outlines the benefits that should accrue from 

implementing them. Chapter 6 then identifies what needs 

to happen to take this IUDP forward to become reality, 

including a full list of proposals for early action (0-1 year), 

mid term (1-3 years) and longer term (3+ years). 

the Procurator Fiscal’s office on St Marnock Street 



2 - issues, challenges and assets 

Kilmarnock, its town centre and its people undoubtedly face 

a range of issues and challenges as a post industrial town 

in West Central Scotland. However, unlike some places, the 

town has clear strengths and opportunities from which to 

build a more sustainable future. This chapter sets out some 

of those issues, challenges and opportunities, drawing from 

• the views of local people and organisations, 

• analysis of the built and natural environment, and 

• consideration of the economic context 

Loanhead Primary School workshop 

2.1 From Engagement: local people, 

local organisations and local businesses 

Between November 2010 and January 2011, the study team 

made contact with over 450 people from businesses, schools, 

neighbourhoods, shoppers, visitors, youth groups, public 

agencies and social enterprises. Some people took part in indepth 

workshop discussions, others gave us their thoughts 

in a short conversation on a street corner. Appendix 2 gives 

further details of the events. 

stakeholder workshop 08/03/2011 

stakeholder walkabout 08/03/2011 

This section provides an overview of the issues raised as a set 

of themes. At the heart of people’s aspirations was a desire to 

get people from Kilmarnock and surrounding communities 

into the town centre, so that it again becomes the bustling, 

lively focus of the town. Nine themes emerged from the 

consultation on how this might be done. Taken together, 

these build a detailed picture of the town’s issues, challenges 

and assets as perceived by its ‘user’ population. 

2.1.1 The importance of people 

• positive = Kilmarnock was cited as “the friendliest 

shopping town in Britain” in 2006, with strong 

community pride and identity, a desire to make the 

town better, an improving Council, and a generally 

positive press. It was viewed as less impersonal than 


out-of-town malls like Silverburn 

• negative = However, antisocial behaviour in the town 

centre is a real problem. This is strongly linked to the 

concentration of methadone dispensing in town centre 

pharmacies, and is a strong deterrent to people of all 

ages coming into the town centre, particularly around 

the Bus Station entrance 

• there is a clear need to foster a more positive spirit and 

build confidence and pride about the centre of town 

Kilmarnock bus station 

2.1.2 Make the town more attractive and competitive 

• It was recognised that it is important for the town 

centre to be competitive: clean, well-maintained, 

welcoming, safe and attractive public realm – perhaps 

even covered? 

• Broadening the shopping offer is really important to 

people – both bigger name/brand shops (e.g. Primark) 

and also local independents (see also theme 8 below) 

• Having more things going on in the town centre with a 

good programme of activities/events in public spaces 

(see 9 also), a wider range of events in venues like the 

Palace, and a creche for kids while parents shop, etc 

• Derelict/uncared for buildings and spaces need to be 

fixed: particularly along John Finnie Street (especially 

the Opera House), Sandbed Street and the river (both 

of which are seen as having great potential), and the 

northern and southern edges of the town centre (its 

“front doors”) 

• Addressing the number of abandoned shops – and the 

rundown appearance they create – is a big concern. 

There was an appeal for these to be put to more positive 

use 

• The 1960s/1970s redevelopments NE of the Cross are 

unloved – the Bus Station especially (unwelcoming 

during the day, unsafe at night), but also the Burns Mall, 

the Palace underpass, the Foregate, the Clydesdale Bank 

and the multi-storey car park. 

• Built heritage is acknowledged to be a valuable asset 



– but there is also an aspiration for newer shops and 

buildings 

2.1.3 Build on assets 

Nurture and connect the town’s many assets, including: 

• Bank Street 

• Howard and Kay Parks 

• built heritage – e.g. John Finnie St 

• friendliness 

• the river 

• The Galleon 

• Dick Institute 

• schools and college 

• bus station 

• good retail offer for the size of town (some say good 

range of shops, others say poor) 

• cafes 

• clean 

• quality residential areas 

• Kilmarnock Football Club 

• build on existing character: both of the built 

environment and people (friendliness/personal 

service) 

• convenience: the town centre is conveniently 

located, easy to access (except for the barrier effect 

of the ring road) and the shops are close together 

• accessible location with good strategic linkages: 

close to two major international airports, and 

there is good road/rail accessibility with respect to 

Glasgow, East Kilbride, Ayr and other towns, as well 

as a sizeable “market town” hinterland 

• existing employers: some big firms have gone, but 

we need to support other employers left in the town 

and make the most of them – e.g. bring Council 

employment into the centre, support existing 

employers to grow (both manufacturing and 

services) 

2.1.4 Build leisure and recreational role 

The evening offer is currently considered way too limited – 

needs more critical mass: 

• make more of existing venues like the Palace Theatre – 

more bands for all ages 

• introduce night-time uses on King Street – currently all 

shops 

• need restaurants and healthy food options 

• need a hotel in the town centre (boutique rather than a 

chain?) 

• programme of activities/events in outdoor public spaces 

and indoor venues (see 3 also) 

• the Galleon is an important asset, for young people in 

particular – make it more accessible/affordable and 

more wide-ranging (e.g. climbing wall, Laserquest etc) 

• youth centre, skatepark/bmx, other social and retail 

things for young people – e.g. Glasgow Spreebook, 

cheaper buses to get into town (walking not always 

safe) – so they can use the town centre more 

• other young people’s stuff – e.g. skateboard park (already 

proposed by young people but foundering for lack of 

support), legal graffiti wall, pool not in a pub for

2.1.6 Connecting places in and around the town centre 

There is a need to better connect the town centre with 

greenspaces (Howard Park and Kay Park), civic area (Dick 

Institute, existing College site etc), Queens Drive retail and 

leisure 

• develop a more positive entrepreneurial spirit amongst 

public sector, a “can do” attitude to support small local 

private and social enterprise 

• aspiration for greener lifestyles – build on having first 

bio-buses in Britain 

• one-way system is too much of a barrier to connections 

between the town centre and surrounding assets and 

neighbourhoods – traffic dominates at the expense of 

pedestrian/cyclist movement 

• at Sturrock St/ Green St, physical design as well as traffic 

create a formidable barrier 

• need easy, non-car-based movement between Queens 

Drive and the town centre – e.g. high quality, regular, 

cheap/free shuttle bus – preferably eco-friendly 

2.1.7 Connecting people and organisations 

Public, private and voluntary sectors need to work to each 

other’s mutual benefit much more – creating a better town 

centre needs commitment and input from each of them 

• this covers politicians, Council officers, College, other 

public sector, businesses, social enterprises, community 

groups – all need to connect up better, linking the good 

things that are happening 

• need more flexibility, more entrepreneurial attitudes 

and more equal dialogue/support across partners 

2.1.9 Celebrate Kilmarnock 

There is a need for better, more proactive strategic 

promotion - to celebrate the town’s identity, pride and what 

it has to offer – what’s on activity guide – all this is as much 

for the town’s own residents as for external markets 

• for many people outside Kilmarnock, their most recent 

perception is BBC’s The Scheme – which was relatively 

negative – and needs short term tactical response 

• how attractive might the tourist offer be? ...would the 

Burns connection, “Kilmarnock Dean Castle”, the legacy 

of Johnnie Walker and the built heritage attract people? 

should we have a tourist information centre? could we 

integrate better with Ayrshire’s big tourist draws such as 

Prestwick Airport, Alloway and Troon? 

• Building up pride and confidence was seen as a key 

objective over time 

2.2 built and natural environment 

Overview : 

2.1.8 Independent Kilmarnock - small businesses and 

enterprises 

• foster independent shops, businesses and social 

enterprises - locally based for local people 

• support existing businesses who want to grow and 

invest in the town – some of whom are substantial 

In physical terms, much of Kilmarnock is attractive and 

distinctive. A substantial part of the fabric of the town 

is made up of a series of residential neighbourhoods of 

different ages, many of which have their own retail centres, 

schools and community hubs. Two of these neighbourhoods 

are Conservation Areas which are close to the town centre. 

Part of the attraction and distinctiveness of the town also 

lies in its extensive parks and greenspace with some of these 

running into the town centre itself. Industrial areas of the 



town have traditionally been situated close to the town 

centre, particularly in the north-west sector along the main 

railway line to Glasgow and to the south along the B7038. 

These areas have seen considerable structural change in the 

past decade and this will continue with the closure of the 

Diageo complex. 

The 20th century has seen major changes in the structure of 

the town. The most significant of these are: 

• the modernisation of the town centre in the 1970s 

through redevelopment and road construction 

• the expansion of peripheral residential developments 

• the decline of local industries particularly around the 

north west and south of the town centre bringing about 

structural and land use change 

• the development of the Queen’s Drive area for out-ofcentre 

retail and leisure 

Kilmarnock 1819 

The effects of these changes can be summarised as: 

Kilmarnock 1939 Kilmarnock 2011 


• poor quality new building in the town centre 

• dislocation of the town centre from surrounding 

residential areas by roads infrastructure 

• contraction in the role of the town centre exacerbated 

by competing attractions 

• fragmentation of the urban fabric along High and Low 

Glencairn Street 

So in physical terms, there is a mismatch between the size 

of the centre and the roles that it can play in the early 21st 

century. Coupled with the current recession, this manifests 

itself as: 

eastern edge to a portion of the existing Conservation Area. 

Streets within the Conservation Area are a combination of 

some of the oldest and most historic streets in Kilmarnock 

and some Victorian era additions, which are distinguished 

by their straight lines. Bank Street and John Finnie Street 

form twin spines of the Conservation Area, with most of the 

other streets within it bisecting one or both of these streets. 

The irregular street pattern of Bank Street and surrounding 

streets such as Strand, Croft, Cheapside, College Wynd and 

Low Church Lane provide a sharp contrast to the planned 

• an inability to achieve development on key sites, 

especially at the north end of the town centre 

• high levels of vacancy, especially in more recently 

constructed properties 

Appreciation: 

The commentary above has focused on some of the 

challenges that face the town centre and while there are 

many negative factors and difficulties to resolve, these 

is also much that is positive and helps to provide a good 

quality environment for people and businesses. There are 

many assets which at the moment are under-utilised and 

could provide the basis for substantial positive change in the 

character of the town centre and the way in which it relates 

to the rest of the town. 

John Finnie Street, 1905 from “Ayrshire & Arran”, An illustrated Architectural 

Guide, Rob Close 

Kilmarnock Cross, late 19th century 

A rich heritage: 

Much of the west side of Kilmarnock town centre is covered 

by the John Finnie Street and Bank Street Outstanding 

Conservation Area. This area occupies a slightly sloping 

site running up to the base of Mount Pleasant, the hill that 

dominates the northern side of the town centre. The Railway 

line and 23 span Viaduct forms a definite edge to the northern 

part of the town centre. A stretch of the Kilmarnock Water, 

behind Bank Street, traverses the town centre and forms the 



geometry and straight lines of John Finnie Street and King 

Street. 

There are two historically and architecturally distinct areas 

within the Conservation Area: John Finnie Street; and the 

Laigh Kirk, Bank Street and Strand Street. 

• John Finnie Street: A superb and unusually 

complete example of a Victorian planned street. The 

distinctiveness of the street is defined by its largely 

uniform use of quality building materials such red 

sandstone. The scale and character of the street 

contrasts with the rest of the town. 

• Laigh Kirk, Bank Street and Strand Street: This area 

comprises the post-medieval core of the town. Although 

made up of largely 19th century buildings the original, 

irregular medieval street plan is adhered to and is the 

defining characteristic of this part of the Conservation 

Area. 

Kilmarnock heritage 


The conservation area provides some of the highest quality 

environments in Kilmarnock. The fact that the conservation 

area designation includes both sides of John Finnie Street 

and extends west from there to include a range of mixed use 

properties means that although the street is part of the oneway 

system, it is rather less intrusive and difficult to cross 

that other parts of the gyratory. However John Finnie Street 

is in need of considerable improvement if it is to become 

not only a significant planned street with good architecture 

but also a social space where people congregate and feel 

comfortable. 

River and greenspace: 

One of Kilmarnock’s undiscovered gems is the Kilmarnock 

Water which flows through the town centre from north to 

south. Many attractive towns and cities are famous for their 

relationship with a river or waterway. Usually the town has 

embraced the river in some form and provides a means of 

accessing its banks or simply watching the water – this in 

turn attracts people to the river and often encourages the 

development of promenade cafes and social spaces. 

The Kilmarnock Water and Sandbed Street 

In contrast, the Kilmarnock Water is largely hidden from 

view. The Burns Mall shopping centre is built over it there are 

no views of it from King Street or Bank Street. Three bridges 

and Sandbed Street provide the only means of getting close 

to the river. At the same time just beyond the town centre 

to the north east, the Kilmarnock Water flows through Kay 

Park until it disappears behind the Palace Theatre. In the 

south west, the river opens out into Howard Park providing a 

picturesque focus for this popular greenspace. 

There is enormous potential to establish a more positive 

relationship between the town centre and the Kilmarnock 

Water in which the river becomes a more obvious and 

integral part of a high quality town centre environment. A 

more positive relationship might also involve using the river 

to improve connections with the town centre and the rest of 

the town through a series of comfortable pedestrian spaces 

and linking footpaths. Such a footpath system could also 

encompass a wider green network throughout the town. In 

other words, the blue and green network traced out by the 

Kilmarnock Water and the existing parks and Core Paths 

could be enlarged and integrated into a town-wide system 

focused on links to the town centre. Such a network would 

link people, places and habitats. 



Movement: 

The legibility of Kilmarnock town centre is much eroded by 

the one-way system. The two-lane clockwise gyratory, with 

its accompanying signs, barriers and traffic signals, reduces 

much of the town centre’s character to anonymous and often 

over-sized highway. 

On the west side of the one-way system, John Finnie Street 

is not a comfortable place for pedestrians and the retail 

offer is undermined by the discomfort of crossing the two 

lanes of traffic. Extensive use of traffic signals adds to the 

congestion, further eroding the qualities of the street. 

Signalling of pedestrian crossings favours traffic to a marked 

extent. 

The top end of Green Street, framed by the railway arches 

on one side and car parks on the other, forms a physical 

and psychological barrier between the town centre and the 

northern area of the town. The bottom end of Green Street 

and Sturrock Street face the backs of the main local shopping 

centre. Pedestrian routes are limited to the riverside, with 

very limited opportunities to cross the road towards the 

The King Street/Titchfield Street section of the one-way system 

centre. The theatre, one of the town’s principal attractions, 

is located adjacent to a four lane road and is connected to 

the town centre by an underpass and an awkward at grade 

route to the bus station. 

The approach to the pedestrianised area of King Street from 

the south-east is particularly poor. Pedestrians are required 

to cross a 4-lane junction and walk along the side of a superstore. 

A series of pedestrian barriers guides them along the 

A735 towards the pedestrianised area, where traffic sweeps 

along Titchfield Street towards St Marnock Street barely 

acknowledging the presence of King Street. 

An integral part of the movement system is the parking 

provision which is concentrated in one multi-storey car park 

at the north end of the town which is not particularly well 

used and a series of at grade car parks distributed around 

the one-way system. Some of these at grade car parks are 

certainly popular on particular weekdays and at different 

times of day but their effect on the appearance of the town 

centre, and on first impressions is negative. With a few 

exceptions, for example the car park between Nelson Street 

and St Marnock Street near the Sheriff Court, these car parks 

do not even act as social spaces or relate properly to the 

surrounding land uses. 

Public realm: 

The town centre has been the subject of considerable 

investment in pedestrianisation and public realm with much 

effort put into the design of streets and the materials used. 

However within the town centre Conservation Area between 

John Finnie Street and King Street, one-way restrictions 

compromise the coherence of this very lightly trafficked 

environment. 

The width and configuration of the southern stretch of the 

gyratory system erodes the connections between King Street 

and the rest of the town. The dominance of highway clutter 

such as barriers, signs, bollards, barriers and traffic signals 

is merely one part of a deeper problem limiting the town’s 

potential. 

The location of extensive parking areas at the edge of the 

inner town centre creates a sudden change in scale that adds 


to the feel of segregation between the town centre and the 

rest of the town. As a result, the town feels disjointed with 

few good connections between the centre and the outer 

neighbourhoods. For the visitor, the layout of the town is 

very difficult to comprehend. 

John Finnie’s Street feels disjointed both from the railway 

station and the rest of the town centre despite its key role of 

linking the station to the town. 

Sturrock Street feels uncomfortably wide, the space outside 

the theatre is particularly bleak and unwelcoming while the 

underpass is an inappropriate link between the theatre and 

the town centre. 

Vacancy: 

In common with many town centres throughout the UK at 

the moment, vacant property is an unfortunate feature of 

Kilmarnock town centre. This is found throughout the town 

centre but there are particular clusters where vacancy is 

especially high around: 

• Portland Street and Foregate at the north end of the 

town centre 

• the bottom of King Street/Titchfield Street that is part 

of the one-way system 

In the case of Portland Street and Foregate, the vacancy rate 

is surprising given that these streets are the main routes 

into the town centre from two of the most popular car parks 

but there is anecdotal evidence from shopkeepers that 

these areas are not popular shopping streets because of the 

presence of anti-social behaviour associated with drug users 

as was reported earlier in this document. 

In the case of King Street/Titchfield Street, the problem is 

easier to define. The pedestrianised section of King Street 

to the north of the vacancy cluster and that part of Titchfield 

Street to the south of the cluster are reasonable successful 

for retail. The vacancy cluster itself is along part of the 

one-way system where pedestrian routes are defined and 

enclosed by guard rails which create a hostile environment. 

vacancy clusters in and around the town centre 

Summary 

Town centre dynamics and integration: 

This brief analysis of the physical characteristics of the town 

centre has highlighted many positive facets of Kilmarnock 

and its town centre especially the qualities of the town’s 

residential neighbourhoods, the parks and greenspaces, the 

merits of the town centre’s built environment and the public 

sector’s investment in high quality public realm over the past 

20 years. 

The principal factor preventing these assets from integrating 

into a more complete place is the traffic system, its 

infrastructure and the poor environment which it creates for 

visitors, businesses, car users and pedestrians. The traffic 

system includes the car parks which have a negative impact 

on first impressions of the town and its visual qualities. The 

same can be said about the signage associated with the road 



system. This traffic system was designed for a time when the 

town centre was a much more popular and busy place than 

it is today and the time may be right to consider a complete 

change of philosophy and approach. The opportunity exists 

to change the road system to create a series of placemaking 

initiatives built to the same high quality as the existing work 

in the town centre but with the additional aim of creating 

well used social spaces rather than just visually attractive 

public realm. 

In terms of opportunities for change through development 

or redevelopment, the current property market difficulties 

suggest that there may only be limited opportunities for new 

interventions. But given a longer timescale than the horizon 

of the current recession there is a clear need and expressed 

desire for change. These are in the shorter term: 

• a comprehensive development proposal for the top of 

the town including the area south of the viaduct at 

Green Street, the car parks at Larchfield Road, Portland 

Street and the buildings on Foregate 

• development proposals for the Diageo site just outside 

the town centre to the north west on Hill Street 

• promoting and encouraging development proposals 

and the conversion of properties facing the river along 

Sandbed Street 

In the medium to longer term: 

• development proposals for the series of at grade car 

parks around the one-way system aimed at starting 

to rebuild street frontages, particularly onto Sturrock 

Street 

• development proposals to repair urban fabric in the 

Titchfield Street and Glencairn Street areas 

These proposals will have a marked degree of synergy with 

proposals for a comprehensive blue and green network across 

Kilmarnock and focusing on the town centre. 

2.3 economic context 

Wider Economic Drivers 

The economic experience of Kilmarnock is rooted in the wider 

experience of the Scottish and UK economies over the last 30 

years. Scotland today is a very different place economically 

to where it was in 1980. Looking over that period we have 

witnessed a number of major shifts in the economy which 

have impacted on Kilmarnock’s competitiveness: 

• Massive structural economic changes. The Scotland 

of 1981 was a country of coal, steel, engineering and 

manufacturing. Scotland today makes its living in an 

entirely different way. In 1981, almost a quarter of people 

in work earned their living in manufacturing and mining 

industries – by 2010 the equivalent figure was just 8% 1 . 

Today almost 90% of all jobs in Scotland are located 

within service industries. 

• The rise of the knowledge economy: Firms in Scotland 

now increasingly compete on the basis of generating 

and exploiting knowledge and ideas. This is a key driver 

of the increased demand for higher level skills in the 

labour market, but it also places greater emphasis on 

access to research and development expertise, strong 

links between Higher Education and the Business Base 

and, string business networks. 

• Location matters for business – but in different ways: 

The factors that are driving business location decisions 

are subtly different from what they were 30 years 

ago. High quality business places and environments 

remain important for major firms, as does the ability 

to draw on large pools of talent and skills. Strategic 

and local transport networks are also important – as is 

digital connectivity. And quality of life issues are also 

increasingly important in the decision making of firms – 

and of individuals. 

• Personal mobility and choice have impacted on place – 

The last 30 years have witnessed a significant weakening 

of the ties between where we work, where we shop and 

where we live Increased car ownership, better transport 

infrastructure and higher wages have led to higher 

levels of commuting and the rise of out of town business 

parks, retail parks, and leisure parks. This drift towards 

edge of town and edge of city development has had 

1 ONS – Workforce Jobs 


major impacts on town centres, including Kilmarnock. 

• But choices haven’t been open to everyone – Al the 

academic evidence on commuting patterns confirm that 

people with higher skills are more likely to commute for 

jobs – with the higher wages they achieve off-setting the 

increased costs of travelling. Those in low paid jobs are 

less likely to travel, and those out of work can face major 

barriers in terms of travel to work. 

• A higher skilled workforce, but greater polarisation: As 

the Scottish economy has transformed into a service 

sector economy we’ve had to get smarter and develop 

new skills. Many jobs need higher level skills and 

today more than one in three people in employment in 

Scotland has a degree. This has been underpinned by a 

massive expansion of higher and further education. 

• Unemployment and the legacy of worklessness – This 

economic transition has left those with low level skills 

further behind. People with low levels of qualifications 

can typically access only low skilled, low paid work 

and are four times as likely to be unemployed then 

the average worker. There is also strong evidence 

that worklessness is being passed from generation to 

generation, especially in communities that have been 

hit hard by de-industrialisation. 

• These trends have tended to reinforce the importance 

of cities and engines of economic growth. Glasgow and 

Edinburgh have seen the strongest jobs growth across 

the country over the last 10 years , have seen the greatest 

diversity in terms of the types of new jobs, and have 

attracted around three quarters of all known inward 

investment into Scotland. They have partly succeeded 

as a result of this ability to draw on large pools of 

skilled labour from around the city region, their better 

connectivity and their world class education and research 

bases. Finally, the Scottish economy is emerging from the 

deepest since the recession since the end of the Second 

World War. Early evidence in the local impacts of the 

recession suggest that Kilmarnock has been hit hard. 

Importantly the post recession period is one that is likely 

to be characterised by lower levels of economic growth, 

lower levels of public sector funding and less private 

finance available in development markets. 

Where is the Kilmarnock economy today? 

Table 1.1: Kilmarnock: Key Economic Indicators 

Kilmarnock* East Scotland 

Ayrshire 

Employment Growth 

Total Jobs 2009 19,383 39,160 2,382.487 

Jobs Growth 2003- -755 -1,689 75,491 

2009 

% Jobs Growth 2003- -4% -4% 3% 

2009 

Kilmarnock* East Scotland 

Ayrshire 

Employment Growth 

- rounded 

Total Jobs 2009 19,400 39,200 2,382.500 

Jobs Growth 2003- -800 -1,700 75,500 

2009 

% Jobs Growth 2003- -4% -4% 3% 

2009 

Source: ABI & BRES 

Labour Market 

Participation 

Out-of-work benefit 19.3% 18.1% 14.9% 

claimants 

IB / ESA Claimant 9.4% 9.9% 8.7% 

Rate 2010 

JSA Claimant Rate 6.4% 7. 3% 4.5% 

2011 

East Scotland 

Ayrshire 

Workforce 

Qualification 2009 

NVQ Level 4+ 31% 38% 

NVQ Level 3 14% 16% 



Other Qualifications 8% 8% 

No Qualifications 12% 9% 

% of working age population, Source: APS, Percentages do not add up to 

100 as those in Trade Apprenticeship are excluded 



The 5 year period ahead of the recession of 2008/09 was 

one of strongest economic and employment growth in the 

Scottish economy. Total employment grew in Scotland by 

over 113,000 (5%) ahead of the recession. However as the 

table above shows, this period of strong growth by passed 

East Ayrshire and Kilmarnock. Total employment fell by 1,400 

and 200 respectively in what were relatively good years in 

terms of economic performance. Data on the labour market 

also shows that the Kilmarnock area has been hit hard by 

both the economic transition of the last 30 years and the 

impact of the recession. Almost one in every five people of 

working age in the town is on an out of work benefit, and 

the JSA claimant rate at 6.4% is around one and a half times 

the Scottish average. Just under one in 10 people in the town 

is on Incapacity Benefit or on the transition to Employment 

Support Allowance. 

The town’s current economic base is not without some 

strengths, but it is markedly different from that of the 

country as a whole in terms of its overall structure. 

Table 1.2 Employment share 2009 

Est no Kilmarnock Scotland 

of jobs 

Retail 2,450 14.4% 10.0% 

Public administration 2,300 13.4% 6.4% 

& defence 

Business 

2,000 11.9% 7.5% 

administration & 

support services 

Health 1,800 10.8% 16.1% 

Manufacturing 1,300 7.7% 7.9% 

Education 1,250 7. 2% 8.2% 

Accommodation & 970 5.7% 7. 3% 

food services 

Arts, entertainment, 900 5.2% 4.3% 

recreation & other 

services 

Construction 800 4.6% 5.5% 

Professional, scientific 

& technical 

800 4.6% 6.3% 

Wholesale 550 3.1% 3.1% 

Transport & storage 550 3.1% 4.3% 

Financial & insurance 360 2.1% 3.9% 

Information & 

- 1.0% 2.4% 

communication 

Property - 1.0% 1.1% 

Over represented in 


Under represented in 


• The biggest employing private sector industries in the 

town are retail (2,450 jobs), business administration 

(2,000 jobs mostly in call centres, facilities management 

and office cleaning and servicing); manufacturing (1,300 

jobs including Diageo) and hotels, restaurants and 

bars (970 jobs). With the exception of manufacturing, 

employment in these sectors is generally lower paid and 

is more likely to be part-time. 

• The public sector accounts for a very significant 

proportion of employment with the three largest 

sectors accounting for almost one in three (31.4%) of 

all jobs. There are 2,300 people employed in public 

administration jobs, 1,800 in health and 1,250 in 

education. 

• Kilmarnock has low numbers of jobs and a lower share of 

jobs in some of the higher value and / or faster growing 

sectors of the economy. This includes Professional 

and Technical Industries such as Architects, Lawyers 

and Civil Engineers (only 4.6% of all jobs v Scottish 

average of 5.6%); Finance and Insurance (only 2.1% of 

all jobs v Scottish average of 3.9%); Information and 

Communication technology (only 1.0% of all jobs v 

Scottish average of 2.4%) 

In summary the town’s current employment base is weaker 

than it might be, with Kilmarnock providing less of the broad 

range of employment opportunities that stakeholders might 

aspire to. In terms of the Urban Development Plan therefore, 

helping to improve the economic resilience of the town is an 

important challenge. 


2.3 conclusion 

This chapter sets out some of the issues, challenges and 

opportunities facing Kilmarnock, drawn from discussions 

with local people and organisations, and analysis of the built 

and natural environment and economic context. 

Clearly, there are a number of challenges that the town faces, 

including: 

• anti-social behaviour, particularly in the vicinity of the 

Burns Mall and the bus station, acting as a deterrent to 

people shopping and visiting the town centre 

• break down the barrier effect of the one-way gyratory 

traffic system, which is disorientating and severs 

the town centre from surrounding facilities and 

neighbourhoods 

• make the town centre more welcoming, particularly 

when approached from the north 

• high incidence of dereliction and vacancy in certain 

parts of the town centre 

• build a more positive relationship between the town 

centre, the river and the parks, through a network of 

paths and spaces 

• diversify the economic base of the town, to improve its 

resilience 

• a lack of evening activities for adults and young people 

in the town centre beyond pubs 

• a continuing need for different people and organisations 

in the town – public, private and voluntary sectors – to 

connect up and support each other 

• build confidence in the town and what it has to offer 

• a compact and convenient town centre, with most 

facilities closely located – shops, sports facilities, 

railway station and so on 

• the inherent character of historic areas of the town 

centre and adjoining neighbourhoods, such as John 

Finnie Street and Bank Street, around the Dick Institute, 

and Howard and Kay Parks 

• a reputation as a friendly town, with local businesses 

and personal service 

• recent growth in population, as well as high quality 

residential areas close to the town centre 

• good educational facilities, including higher and up to 

further education 

• commitment amongst public, private and voluntary 

sectors to see the town rise again 

In addressing these challenges, a number of particular 

strengths and assets have emerged on which this Integrated 

Urban Development Plan should build. These include: 



3 - vision and strategy 

view south west along Bank Street - one of the town’s assets 

The previous chapter summarised the contemporary 

contextual material drawn from a combination of the people 

of Kilmarnock and the study team. Working from these 

issues, challenges and opportunities we developed a vision 

for Kilmarnock to set the direction for change. This was 

To make Kilmarnock a more resilient town, turning itself around 

over a period of 10 to 15 years through a range of transformative 

actions, both small and large, across the spectrum of people, 

place and economic activity. The aim is to make Kilmarnock one 

of the most vibrant and productive towns in Scotland, positively 

attracting people, investment and jobs, and where people will be 

proud to live. 

Kilmarnock needs to get fit to play a bigger socio-economic 

role in the regional and national economy, which – in the 

current climate of uncertainty – must be done initially by 

focussing on a wide range of affordable improvements. The 

key is to shift how the town is perceived both by locals and 

by outsiders. 

Six principles are advocated to guide and underpin the vision 

and the various proposals: 

1. Build up community & economic capacity– reinforcing 

Kilmarnock’s role as a community hub and county-wide 

service centre 

2. Improve positive place attributes – focused around 

making safer and more attractive public spaces that 

enhance its identity positively 

3. A family–friendly feel to the place – enlivening the 

town centre with activities, events and visitors from 

near and far, for all ages, during the day and in the 

evening 

4. Greener, more localist culture – exploiting parks, 

green links and reinforcing walking connections across 

neighbourhoods 

5. Renewed focus on learning and enterprise – 

supporting primary, secondary, further and higher 


education as well as other forms of learning for all ages, 

and offering more proactive support for existing and 

small-scale private and social enterprise 

6. Confident and proud – with a positive attitude to 

support local providers, services and attractions 

In terms of physical and spatial change, the kind of place 

that this vision and principles seek to generate is a compact 

town with a condensed core. New development should be 

concentrated primarily within the existing built-up area in 

the next 5 to 10 years. 

The vision and principles will not be achieved exclusively 

through this Integrated Urban Development Plan. This needs 

to be carefully linked with other initiatives that Make it 

Kilmarnock are undertaking in parallel with this plan, such 

as a branding and marketing strategy, which are also of 

fundamental importance in delivering the vision. 

strategic approach 

The strategy for Kilmarnock’s IUDP comprises a series of 

elements that seek to help re-balance and turn the town 

around. These comprise 

• an economic strategy component, that seeks to help 

re-position Kilmarnock in the medium term, 

• a spatial strategy dimension, about how the shape 

emphasis should change to meet future needs, and to 

shape future investment 

• a movement and place strategy thread, around an 

alternative to the ring road/gyratory constraint on 

the towns identity and functioning 

Key elements informing the strategic approach are: 

2 The place need to be physically (and visually) 

transformed if it is to reposition itself – whether for 

business, and for residents, or for visitors. 

3 The improvements should be tailored to the unique 

nature of Kilmarnock, rather than inappropriate or 

place-less ‘clone town’ solutions or direct replicas of 

out-of-town centres. 

4 Addressing movement, from arrival and orientation, 

to quality and legibility of routes, is important for a 

range of users, including visitors, shoppers, the old 

and the young. 

5 There should be a mix of implementation measures, 

combining smaller easier steps with larger more 

transformational projects to be implemented in 

phases over time 

6 Crucially there needs to be a clear focus on addressing 

the needs in and around the town centre, including a 

consolidation and ‘ densification’ around the core, to 

build investment, scale, intensity and use. This means 

reducing all the external edge of town investment in 

retail and residential investment that is not already 

committed. 

7 A local-first approach should be used to build strength 

from within, drawing support for and from, local 

employment base, local shops and services, and public 

agencies. This needs to be complemented by a more 

outward looking inward investment and strategic 

customer approach. 

1 There should be a progressive series of inter-related 

actions, building on recent investment, for instance 

in the Bank Street area, and as proposed at the Diageo 

site. 

8 A wider city-region perspective is also needed to 

optimise opportunities from Kilmarnock’s growing 

relationship with Glasgow and the surrounding area, 

in terms of transport, services, residential catchment 

9 each physical intervention should support community 



and economic objectives, while economic initiatives 

should enhance, rather than detract from the quality 

of the town. Urban design and placemaking need to be 

at the heart of the philosophy of place transformation. 

could transform the whole inner ring-road from an 

impenetrable highway boundary, to one where the qualities 

of the historic centre merge seamlessly with the area outside 

the ring road. 

There are three inter-related strategy elements as follows: 

1 spatial strategy 

The direction of the spatial strategy has been developed from 

the analysis of the town centre in the context of the rest of 

Kilmarnock. There is a need for the strategy to bring about: 

• physical integration of the centre with other parts of the 

town 

• clearer relations between residential areas and the town 

centre 

• a broadening of the role of the town centre so that is 

predicated not only on retail but also on a much broader 

collection of activities which include administration, 

leisure, residential, employment , social enterprise and 

community and cultural uses 

• a series of placemaking initiatives which emphasis 

the themes above but which also treat streets as social 

spaces rather than purely visual compositions 

• the enabling and promotion of development 

opportunities in the short, medium and longer term 

which help to rebuild the town centre’s relationship 

with the rest of the town 

• the creation of a blue and green network which can tie 

the together and act as a catalyst for new development 

in the town centre 

2 movement and place strategy 

A phased approach starting with tackling the one-way 

restriction on John Finnie Street would help prepare the 

ground for wider changes in the longer term. The re-design 

of the system would be based on a series of simple measures 

which would include: 

• re-instating the two-way traffic flows, taking precedent 

from recent award-winning market town enhancements 

such as Ashford in Kent and like Ashford, the key measure 

would involve untangling the one-way system, and 

returning the key circulating streets to two-way, lowspeed 

flow 

• creating a legible, simplified streetscape, unifying the 

character of the public realm, and giving a stronger 

focus and sense of place 

• creating a low-speed traffic environment, enabling a 

sequence of major and minor place-making schemes 

to provide clear and legible links to Kilmarnock’s retail 

centre 

3 economic strategy 

The approach to addressing the economic dimension of 

the strategy is of a series of progressive measures aimed at 

turning the place around for investors, employers and also 

visitors. No one project addresses all the issues. Rather a 

progressive sequence, as illustrated in this diagram, linked 

to the spatial and transport improvements, is what is 

proposed. 

The movement and place strategy seeks to ameliorate the 

negative aspects of the one-way system which dominates 

the town centre. A consistent set of placemaking principles 

• Kilmarnock is not fundamentally broken, yet the review 

of the economic and social drivers make it clear 

that it has been losing ground economically for the last 


20 or so years. Turning it round is similarly going to be 

a longer term process. But the town has the ability, the 

desire and the commitment to influence its own economic 

future 

• We need to develop a progressive, multi-pronged 

approach to improving the town’s competitiveness - 

there are no ‘silver bullets’ in terms of turning round the 

town’s economy. Competition for inward investment 

is tough and the experience of other places in Scotland 

show there are risks in short term fixes. We propose a 

range of approaches, shifting the balance of effort and 

priority weightings over time. 

• The starting point is to build on existing economic 

assets and businesses, as they are already here. 

Diageo may be going but there are lots of businesses 

who remain and who are passionate about the town. A 

key focus should be on helping existing businesses to 

grow and develop and on encouraging small businesses 

to start or relocate here. In particular the town should 

look to build on existing strengths in terms of business 

services and leisure, and maximise the contribution that 

the College can make to supporting students to open 

businesses. 

• There is a need to optimise the benefits of any 

investment that is taking place. For instance, the next 

few years are likely to see significant investment in the 

town in the form of the development of the new College 

campus and the wider redevelopment of the former 

Diageo site. The Council is also looking to consolidate its 

presence and build upon its property assets in the town 

centre. It will be important to use these investment as 

‘levers’ that support and integrate new development 

opportunities for the town, including retail, local 

services, and other physical improvements. 

• It will be crucial to look beyond the town, towards 

the wider city region. Kilmarnock is not a closed 

system, and its connectivity to Glasgow is good, 

having improved drastically over the past few years. 

Capitalising on the town’s proximity to Glasgow should 

be a key feature of any strategy to improve economic 

resilience. This could include encouraging families 

and people who work in Glasgow to come and live in 

Kilmarnock as well as giving Kilmarnock residents the 

skills to access jobs in the city as it continues to grow. 

• Aspirations are important drivers, but they have to 

be rooted in realism. The workshops highlighted many 

potential opportunities in growth industries including 

tourism, renewable energy, and financial services. 

These are important and achievable aspirations – in 

due course. The strategy needs to recognise in a wider 

Scottish context, within which Kilmarnock is not 

the only place thinking about these opportunities. 

Furthermore the town does not have a recent track 

record of success in attracting high growth industries. 

It will take time to build up knowledge of these sectors 

and put in place the conditions that might attract more 

businesses in these sectors to the town. There may be 

merit in focusing on one or two of these sectors at the 

outset, rather than several. 

• The importance of place making and attractiveness. 

Successful places over the longer term are those which 

are appealing – to residents, investors, visitors. Kilmarnock 

has many excellent characteristics, but much has 

been identified that could improve the place offer. From 

an economic development point of view, the place making 

interventions suggested elsewhere in the Urban De- 



town centre strategy and proposals 


velopment Plan are not ‘add-ons’ to the economic ambitions 

of the town nor are they ‘instead-ofs’. Rather they 

are a central and integral part of the approach to building 

the attractiveness of Kilmarnock to locals, investors 

and visitors. 

It is the interlinkage of these three strategic strands that 

gives the Plan its strength and coherence. 

The next section contains the proposals for achieving this 

overall vision: the range of improvements, from the small and 

affordable to a limited number of bigger ticket items, which 

will deliver the transformational change that is required for 

the town to get fitter for its future purpose. 



4 - plan proposals 

the railway viaduct at the top of the town - a popular landmark 

The proposals are designed to deliver the vision and 

principles outlined in the previous chapter, and to respond 

to the issues, challenges and opportunities which emerged 

during consultation. These proposed improvements are, 

therefore, a direct response to the issues and aspirations of 

the wide range of people of Kilmarnock who contributed to 

this study. 

The proposals are grouped into three scale categories, 

each of which contains a mix of physical/spatial proposals 

and supporting economic or social actions. There are big 

interventions of a transformational nature, important assets 

to safeguard and exploit, and joining up projects and actions. 

1. BIG INTERVENTIONS 

2. SAFEGUARDING THE ASSETS 

3. JOINING IT TOGETHER 

Delivery and implementation proposals have also been 

incorporated into these three groups, rather than the 

conventional approach of seeing them as separate. This is 

because the proposals for delivering the Integrated Urban 

Development Plan are, in reality, integral to its success. 

Category 1 contains the following proposals: 

1.1 A shift in planning policy to broaden central area uses 

1.2 A series of one-way system interventions to change the 

culture of the town as a user-friendly destination 

1.3 Top of the Town - a revised road system and the release of 

sites for new development 

1.4 The Diageo site 

1.5 Making the most of the College Campus development 

1.6 Developing role for the ‘Make it Kilmarnock’ Strategic 

Advisory Board 

1.7 Behavioural issues in/around bus station and Burns Mall 

Category 1 Projects: the big interventions 

1.8 Develop a clear economic strategy for Kilmarnock 


1.1 A shift in planning policy to broaden central area uses 

– to include: 

• specialist retail and local services 

• cafes, pubs, restaurants 

• professional + administrative suites 

• health + community, therapies + beauty 

• creative, cultural, engineering, brewing 

• Kilmarnock College activities + spin-offs 

• affordable premises for start-ups + downsizing private + 

social enterprises 

• drama, music, entertainment, comedy, nightclubs 

• pioneer some low cost, destinational activity 

A vibrant mix of uses will not only add to the variety, 

vitality and a utility beyond core working hours, but will 

also broaden the scope for occupiers to express interest 

in properties, whether currently vacant or as potential 

developments 

1.2 A series of one-way system interventions – John 

mixed use property on John Finnie Street 

Finnie St, Palace Theatre and the gateway to town centre 

north of the viaduct - to change the culture of the town as a 

user-friendly destination. 

A phased approach starting with tackling the one-way 

restriction on John Finnie Street would help prepare the 

ground for wider changes in the longer term. The re-design 

of John Finnie Street could be based on a series of simple 

measures that could then be applied elsewhere. These would 

include: 

• Re-instating the two-way traffic flows, taking precedent 

from recent award-winning market town enhancements 

such as Ashford in Kent. Like Ashford, the key measure 

would involve untangling the one-way system, and 

returning the key circulating streets to two-way, lowspeed 

flow. This would allow for street enhancements to 

focus on this key retail street first. 

• Creating a legible, simplified streetscape, unifying the 

character of the public realm, and giving a stronger 

focus and sense of place. 

• Creating a low-speed traffic environment, enabling a 

sequence of major and minor place-making schemes 

to provide clear and legible links to Kilmarnock’s retail 

centre. 

These would also enable the creation of: 

• Station Square involving the creation of a coherent 

space to provide a welcoming and lively entry point to 

the town. The new square would help establish the link 

between the Station, John Finnie Street and the Town 

Centre. 

• Sheriff Court Corner at the intersection of John Finnie 

Street with St Marnock Street marks an important 

change of scale on the southern entry to Kilmarnock. 

The introduction of the two-way system will require 

the removal of redundant traffic signals, markings and 

traffic islands, allowing a simple place to be created. 



John Finnie Street - existing 

• Links to the Town Centre with all the intersections of 

John Finnie Street treated as critical focal points. These 

crossroads are vital in reconnecting to the historic 

assets of Bank Street and the Town Centre. 

In addition to the above major spaces, we would recommend 

a programme to improve the character and function of 

smaller intersections, particularly those serving a role as 

entry points into the town centre. These would include: 

John Finnie Street - proposed 


• The intersection of the A735 (Titchfield Street) with King 

Street which serves as an important pedestrian link to 

the retail centre of the town. The removal of pedestrian 

barriers and the extension of the treatment of the 

pedestrianised area across the junction will dramatically 

improve the pedestrian environment, retaining the 

required traffic capacity. 

• Howard Park Place - the simplification of the traffic 

layout provides an opportunity to end the axis of 

John Finnie Street with the gate of the park. This 

arrangement will also create a simple entry space for 

traffic coming from south. 

John Finnie Street - proposals 

Design principles 

All changes to road design and shared surfaces will be 

undertaken with input from disabled and public transport 

groups, and will build on best practice elsewhere. 

Our recommendations for John Finnie Street build on a 

combination of simple measures aimed at creating a legible, 

low-speed traffic environment that responds to the existing 

context and morphology of the street, and could be extended 

to the rest of the one-way loop around the centre, once 

converted to two-way. 

A design speed (as distinct from a formal speed limit) of 

around 18 mph would provide the starting point, informing 

the dimensions, geometry, choice of materials and detailing 

of the streetscape. 

As a general principle, we would seek to establish a 

carriageway width of 6 metres. This allows for two-way flows 

of buses and other large vehicles. We would recommend 

that the visual width (the driver’s perception of carriageway 

widths) should be further reduced through a kerb detail that 

extends the footway material into the carriageway. 

The extension to John Finnie Street of the “Restricted Parking 

Zone” already established in Bank Street would clarify 

use of precious on-street space. Any on-street short-term 

parking or loading bays would be defined in a distinctive 

material from that of the carriageway to maintain consistent 

visual widths. No yellow lines or further signs would be 

required within the streets, avoiding the standard highway 

characteristics common to many UK public spaces. 

We would also recommend the removal of all centre lines and 



Hope Park entrance to town centre - existing 

stop lines. These are unnecessary in low-speed streets, and 

their absence helps create such shared space environments. 

Similarly, the use of highway signs, signals and barriers 

should be kept to an absolute minimum. 

The slow speed environment would also allow more informal 

pedestrian crossings. “Courtesy crossings “could be located 

at regular intervals along the street, giving the opportunity 

Hope Park entrance to town centre - proposed 


King Street/Titchfield Street - existing 

of interrupting the long row of parked vehicles and 

introducing trees and street furniture (i.e. cycle stands). 

The contrast between the characteristics of surrounding 

highways and the distinctive streetscapes of John Finnie 

Street would be maximised through choice of materials 

and the use of lighting. Street lighting is mostly mounted 

on buildings, and it could be further integrated with the 

King Street/Titchfield Street - proposed 



St Marnock Street/John Finnie Street - existing 

architecture to add animation to the buildings and shop 

fronts. 

The selection of paving materials will be determined by 

budget, but a simple, robust streetscape vocabulary can 

be created through careful selection of asphalts, applied 

finishes and the selection of an appropriate local brick or 

setts to define the transitions around the key spaces. 

St Marnock Street/John Finnie Street - proposed 


Simplify the arrangements for the key intersections, with 

the use of compact low-speed high-capacity junctions would 

enhance the public realm, reducing the barrier effect of a 

busy highway space. High capacity signal junctions could 

be replaced by roundabouts with reduced approach widths 

and tight turning radii, to encourage low vehicular speeds 

and retain high urban design standards (as successfully 

implemented in Mainland Europe). 

Sheriff Court Corner 

At present the signal-controlled junction of John Finnie 

Street, Portland Road, Dundonald Road and St Marnock 

Street presents a forbidding barrier to the town centre, and 

a poor arrival point into John Finnie Street, dominated by 

barriers, signals and all the street signs associated with the 

one-way system. 

John Finnie Street 

The two-lane one-way road system, where pedestrians rely 

on signal-controlled crossings to negotiate the fast moving 

traffic, generates excessive street clutter that erodes the 

urban quality of John Finnie Street. The fine Victorian 

buildings disappear from view, and key connections are lost. 

A simple informal junction would cope with likely traffic 

volumes and reduce the build-up of stationary queues along 

St Marnock Street. We would recommend a careful detailing 

of the transition of materials. The selection and inclusion of 

characteristic street lighting would help define the identity 

of the new space and establish a key transition point into 

John Finnie Street. 

We would recommend simplifying the street layout 

reintroducing a two-way traffic movement. The carriageway 

would be narrowed to 6 metres. Parking could be retained 

and interspersed by a few carefully located trees that could 

help reinforce the sense of place. Courtesy crossings would 

be located at regular intervals to enhance the numerous 

pedestrian desire lines. 

Station Square 

The regeneration of the space surrounding the station 

underpins the re-design of John Finnie Street. At present the 

visitor arriving by train is welcomed by a bleak, incoherent 

space lacking definition and dominated by signals. The 

quality of the shops and business suffer from the lack of 

opportunities for pedestrians to spend time in this area. 

Howard Park Place 

The entrance to Howard Park is aligned with John Finnie 

Street and provides the opportunity to define the edge this 

axis at this side of town. 

Our sketch design recommendations build on the principles 

of place-making to create a simple, legible relationship 

between the park and the street. The design would make 

use of surface treatments to create a clear forecourt to the 

park, with some distinctive lighting and planting to be 

incorporated into the newly paved area. It allows for the full 

frontage of the park to become the entry point to the town 

centre, emphasising the transition from the A759 to the 

slow-speed context of the town centre, where the use of any 

centre line or other road markings should be avoided. 

Our initial recommendation would include a carefully 

designed roundabout that would create an appropriate 

forecourt to the station. A paving language of contrasting 

materials / textures / tones would define the carriageway 

and footway areas. 

1.3 Top of the Town proposals 

Proposals for the top of the town would seek to change the 

current perception of this area as a series of car parks into 

an elegant urban space with a revised road system and 



development proposal A for the top of the town 

development proposal B for the top of the town 

the release of sites for new development. The proposals 

are based on the assumption that the one-way system 

will evolve into a two-way system so for those arriving 

in Kilmarnock from the north, this area would be their 

first experience of the town centre and Portland Street / 

Wellington Street would be the new point of entry. 

The core idea of the top of the town proposal is to create 

a new urban space surrounded on three sides by new 

development which would help to animate the space. The 

development proposals for the area are reasonably modest 

given current market conditions but it is considered likely 

that the area would be able to sustain: 

• a budget hotel 

• a cafe/restaurant potentially associated with the bus 

station 

• start-up office accommodation 

• affordable and/or sheltered housing accommodation 

The current car park at Portland Street/Green Street would 

remain in use as a car park but would take on the character 

of an urban square with a programme of events including 

farmers’ markets and other attractions. 

Two options have been developed for this proposal including 

the possibility of redeveloping the Clydesdale Bank Building. 

1.4 Proposals for Diageo site with/without College 

At the time of writing, the proposed relocation of Kilmarnock 

College to the Diageo site was well advanced. This proposal 

has therefore been included as the lead proposal in this 

report, although alternative proposals for the Diageo site 

without the College were also considered. 

Relocation of the College would only utilise a portion of the 

Diageo site towards the south. For the remainder of the 

site, it is important to make sure uses in their site have an 

ensure that the urban structure that connects out to the 

north west, and also provides uses that are complement 

rather than compete directly with town centre, as shown 

on accompanying plan which depicts current proposals. 

Importantly, the College should not become too selfcontained, 

but is seen to have a physical presence that 

links well to the town centre in terms of physical presence, 

activities, connections and movement of people. 


1.5 Making the most of the College Campus 

Development – The College Campus is a potentially 

important lever in supporting and integrating new 

development into the north of the town. It is likely to be 

one of the single biggest physical investments in the town 

over the next few years. Explicit consideration should be 

given to developing mechanisms that directly connect local 

companies – and local people - with the benefits expected 

from new development is not just about engaging local firms 

and workers in the construction process (though this can 

be important) but about conn local businesses into supply 

chains, and local people with jobs that might emerge in 

the once developments are operational. The employment 

brokerage model that was operated at Silverburn by Glasgow 

South West Regeneration Agency is a good example. 

1.6 The present Make it Kilmarnock Board will have a 

key role in supporting the expansion of the town centre and 

wider town. This is important to continue momentum from 

current position and aspiration for improvement. 

• Continuing to build Kilmarnock’s civic and institutional 

capacity is key. The closure of Diageo has been a major 

indicative proposals for the Diageo site by James Barr and BDP 

Diageo Masterplan Hill Street Kilmarnock 

Indicative Option 1 

Indicative Option 2 

• Hotel 

• Residential 

• Care Home 

• Business 

• Further Education College 

• Residential 

• Care Home 

• Business 

• Further Education College 

Indicative Mixed Use Masterplan Options 



spur to exploring the wider economic forces, and trends 

that have impacted on the town and have resulted 

in this study. However it will be important to follow 

through on this over the next 10 years. There will be 

a better chance of improving the town’s economic 

fortunes if we capitalise on the interest that has been 

shown by local people, business leaders and politicians 

throughout this study. This group should act as a 

steering group for the strategy and play a key role 

structuring proposals for the Diageo site 

in developing the branding strategy for Kilmarnock, 

and representing the town’s interests to the Scottish 

Government and other national interests. (point 4) 

1.7 Focus on behavioural issues in/around bus station 

+ Burns Mall – including methadone dispensing. This is 

critically important to secure the actual and perceived 

transformation required if the town centre is to be a safe 

and convivial place for users of all ages – both in terms 

of perception and reality. Local residents, from children 

through to adults, are deterred from coming into the 

town centre because of the atmosphere created by the 

concentration of drug users who spend time around the bus 

station and Burns Mall. Businesses believe that same issue is 

having a negative impact on their trade. 

The ultimate solution clearly involves reducing the demand 

for methadone dispensing, a goal to which the Alcohol and 

Drugs Partnership are working towards. In the meantime, 

the existing efforts of community planning partners 

(including the police, health authority and local authority) 

to manage the methadone dispensing regime and related 

behavioural issues should be prioritised. 

1.8 Developing a clear economic strategy for 

Kilmarnock – The report has highlighted the major changes 

that have taken place in the national and local economy, and 

the increased competition between places for investment 

and jobs. We believe there is a strong case for developing a 

clear economic strategy for East Ayrshire and in particular 

Kilmarnock as its main town. A key aim of this strategy 

would be to identify the potential growth sectors of the 

future and what the town needs to do to secure them in 

terms of skills, property and business support interventions. 

It will be an essential bedrock for the development of 

the branding and visioning strategy and would include 

dimensions such as nurturing the core entrepreneurial, 

customer-oriented spirit towards private/social enterprise 


partners – with the aim of working in collaboration. it is 

envisaged that the strategy would be integrated within the 

Councils existing Community Plan 

CATEGORY 2 PROJECTS: SAFEGUARDING THE 

ASSETS 

2.1 blue-green network 

with shared surfaces and pedestrian priority environments. 

In turn, these placemaking initiatives could link to new 

development proposals or building conversions in the 

Conservation Area. 

It is important that the blue-green network is not seen solely 

as a movement network for people but is fundamentally a 

placemaking catalyst which is also connected to the ecology 

and habitat assets of the town. 

This proposal seeks to integrate the Kilmarnock Water, 

residential neighbourhoods surrounding the town centre, 

Howard Park and Kay Park as well as the Core Path network 

and other footpath systems with the town centre. The 

proposal is based on the idea that the Kilmarnock Water is 

a considerably underused resource and one of the hidden 

gems of Kilmarnock. The river could become an important 

new focal point in the town centre and its improvement and 

promotion could act as a catalyst for new development and 

building conversions along Sandbed Street and to the rear of 

Bank Street. 

At the same time, a blue-green network of improved linkages 

across the town could complement the major works involved 

in converting the one-way system gyratory into a two-way 

system. In this way, pedestrian networks could be linked 

to new placemaking initiatives and proposals associated 

The centrepiece of this network is the proposal to open up 

the Kilmarnock Water to King Street by removing two shop 

units which currently sit on the bridge over the watercourse 

thus creating an exciting new urban space overlooking the 

river. 

Another important element of the blue-green network is 

the ambition of improving connections between the town 

centre and the Diageo site and this will involve rethinking 

the pedestrian underpass beneath the station and also 

civilising Hill Street through public realm and placemaking 

improvements with linkages to the bus station through the 

new civic space at Portland Street/Green Street. 

2.2 other placemaking interventions 

a) King Street /Titchfield Street 


2.1 Blue-green network 

2.2 Rethinking streets and public space at the Palace 

Theatre, Sturrock Street King Street and the Legal 

Quarter 

2.3-2.5 Extend conservation area and built heritage grant 

schemes 

2.6 A clean and well-maintained town centre 

2.7-2.9 Extended events programme with specialist support, 

Shop Local campaign, and temporary uses initiatives 

for vacant premises 

2.10 Collaboration and support for existing employers 

Simplifying the traffic management arrangements and 

creating a shared space, low-speed environment allow the 

urban design language introduced in the pedestrianised area 

of King Street to the trafficked one, without significantly 

compromising the traffic movements. 

Our sketch illustrates a possible approach to the end of 

Titchfield Street, removing the barriers and extending the 

materials of the pedestrianised area across the junction to 

mark the approach to the town centre, in contrast to the 

anonymous piece of highway created by the existing barriers 

and road markings. 



King Street - existing 

b) Sturrock Street 

Sturrock Street encapsulates some of the worst aspects of 

the one-way system in terms of speed of traffic, unnecessary 

width, redundant signage and at grade car parking. The 

reversion of the one-way system to two-way will provide an 

opportunity to narrow the carriageway, provide more space 

for pedestrians and introduce street trees. In the longer 

term, it would be advantageous to consider developing at 

grade car parks in this area so that new development could 

create new frontages onto Sturrock Street. 

King Street - proposal for new civic space over river 


the King Street civic space from the bridge at Sandbed Street - before (above) and after (right) 

green and blue network development 



Sandbed Street existing situation (right) and proposal for riverside cafe with 

public spaces and pedestrian priority street (below) 


c) The Legal Quarter 

The alterations to John Finnie Street discussed above include 

changes to its junction with St Marnock Street which will 

have a positive effect on the overall environment of what 

has been described as the town’s Legal Quarter around the 

Sheriff Court and the Police Station. There is an opportunity 

to take a comprehensive approach to the treatment of this 

area and this could include the car park off St Marnock Street 

and Nelson Street. The aim of this would be to establish this 

car park as a genuine civic and social space while retaining 

its use for parking. These proposals might include additional 

proposed improvements along Sturrock Street - existing (above) and proposed (below) 



opportunities for small retail developments which would 

look into the space, benefitting from car park users and 

increased footfall. 

d) The Palace Theatre Square 

It was noted in the appraisal chapter that the dislocation 

of the Palace Theatre from the town centre and its partial 

submersion behind roads infrastructure with limited 

accessibility represented an opportunity for positive change. 

With changes to the one-way system it would become 

possible to create a genuine civic space between the Palace 

Theatre, the bus station and the Burns Mall, possibly opening 

up the Mall to look over the new space. This new square 

could also have a positive relationship with the Kilmarnock 

Water and the parkland heading north from the space. 

2.3 Continue to breathe new life into old buildings | 

extend THI and CARS beyond 2013 

The character and quality of Kilmarnock’s built heritage 

is one of the town’s most significant assets. Some vacant 

properties have been so for a number of years impacting on 

their neighbours and the general feel of the town centre. 

Every encouragement should be given to owners to grant 

short-term lets, possibly in association with the College 

start-up programme suggested above, with property above 

retail brought back into productive use as well as the more 

obvious ground floor premises. The Council should consider 

what further action it could take with recalcitrant landlords. 

circa 1920s view along Duke Street to the Palace Theatre 


Palace Theatre - existing 

Palace Theatre - proposed 



Buildings need constant care and attention if they are to be 

conserved, quite apart from the more significant investment 

needed to ensure that historic vacant and derelict buildings 

which have fallen into disrepair are brought back into re-use. 

The THI and CARS schemes have brought a number of key 

buildings back into re-use over the last 3 years, through 

intensive work with owners and other public agencies to 

secure investment and refurbishment. Progress is well 

advanced on a number of other buildings. The future of some 

of these is likely to be secured before 2013, others will take 

longer; and there are many other buildings where action 

is required but work has not yet started. Much has been 

achieved, and remains to be achieved, with a small team 

of dedicated officers and associated resources. To stop the 

scheme in 2013 would be to lose momentum in this vital task 

of conserving and re-using the town’s built heritage, which 

helps to meet the aspirations of conserving heritage and 

bringing more business and residential vitality to the town 

centre. 

We therefore recommend that this important work is 

continued beyond 2013, along with proposals 2.4 and 2.5. 

2.4 Fund repair grants in Outstanding Conservation 

Area 

Beyond the re-use of critical historic buildings, there is also 

a need for better, preventative upkeep of the town centre’s 

stock of historic buildings. Experience shows that the 

expense of arranging maintenance of rainwater goods and 

roofs can be greatly reduced by organising this collectively 

– sharing the cost of access to roofs and wall heads across 

a number of building owners, say on a street or block basis. 

This makes preventative maintenance more likely to happen. 

The Council would need to take a proactive role to ensure 

that this happens. This proposal is closely linked with 2.3 and 

2.5 

2.5 Continue to implement 2005 Town Centre Living 

Initiative 

This initiative, prepared by the Council in 2005, contains 

many good proposals, which are closely integrated with the 

THI/CARS project. Like that, good progress has been made 

– but more remains to be done. Continued support would 

help bring vitality to the town centre through bringing more 

residents into the town centre. This proposal is closely linked 

with 2.4 and 2.5 

2.6 Extend high standards of cleaning + maintenance 

throughout town centre public realm 

Often the most basic things are the most important. Having 

a clean and respectable town centre certainly came across 

as being important during the consultation phases of our 

work. The Council and its partners achieve high standards 

of cleaning and maintenance in upgraded parts of the town 

centre’s public realm. Consultation revealed an aspiration for 

these standards to be extended across the town centre – all 

part of the desire to make the town centre more attractive, 

an important part of the overall package within this IUDP 

of attracting more people, business and investment into the 

town centre. 

2.7 Extend events programme + appoint specialist staff 

to implement, in partnership with local venues + groups 

(e.g. Palace Theatre, Centre Stage) 

The town has good venues and an active performing arts 

sector. Young people in particular expressed a desire to see 

more use made of indoor venues (such as the Palace Theatre) 

and outdoor spaces for more frequent events. This would 

not only bring more people into the town centre, but would 

consolidate it as a focus for life in the town. Organising this 

does not just happen, however: it takes time, resources and 

energy. The town centre management function already does 


much good work in this area and is an appropriate focus 

for greater resources and time to develop and deliver an 

extended programme. 

2.8 Extend Shop Local campaign for Kilmarnock and 

environs in partnership with local businesses 

Encouraging more people from the town and surrounding 

villages to shop in Kilmarnock, not least through raising 

awareness of what the town has to offer, is important. The 

ongoing work of the Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association 

and the town centre manager should be supported to take 

this forward. 

2.9 Promote temporary uses of vacant retail units 

The Council should work with landlords, community groups, 

artists and local enterprises to secure temporary uses of 

vacant units. There are now well-established models for 

resolving any legal and financial issues with landlords around 

temporary uses, and good examples of what can be achieved 

can be seen through the government’s Meanwhile Spaces 

initiative in England and Wales. Possible uses could include 

space for new businesses, the arts, culture and community 

– covering private, social and community enterprise. The 

critical need is for the public sector to act as an enabler and 

facilitator to promote and encourage these temporary uses, 

which are entrepreneurial in the widest sense of the word. 

economic strategy, more needs to be done to understand 

exactly who the local business base are, what their growth 

ambitions are and the barriers that they face in meeting 

them. This initial piece of analysis and engagement should 

form the basis for developing, in partnership with local 

companies, a targeted programme of business support , 

engagement and networking that works for local employers. 

Projects like My Future’s in Falkirk offer good practice lessons 

in terms of progressing more effective business engagement. 

Category 3 Projects: joining it together 


3.1 Channel investment demand into the town centre 

wherever possible 

3.2-3.3 Promote the area south of the town centre as a place 

for business and enterprise, with an appropriate 

design code 

3.4 Continue to build Town Centre Trust Fund 

3.5 Collaborative annual Kilmarnock futures forum to 

monitor progress and explore future strategy 

3.6 Develop learning and education 

3.7 Young people’s discount card 

3.8 Town centre creche 

3.9 Local rates relief in parts of the town centre 

3.10 Overall branding/visioning strategy for a range of 

markets 

2.10 Working with existing employers to support + 

retain them 

The strategy process highlighted the importance of retaining 

the current employment base in the town and where possible 

helping them to grow. Alongside the development of the 

3.1 Resist out-of-town retail, residential + intermediate 

- sized commercial space that could be in the town 

centre 

Planning policy should be reviewed with the intention of 



ensuring that all new development that can be in the town 

centre is in the town centre. This will be a critical part of the 

policy package of supporting and promoting the town centre 

by channelling all possible investment into it – particularly 

retail, leisure, hotels, apartments and small-medium sized 

office space. Clearly, not all development can be channelled 

into the town centre: but for the next ten years or so, the 

intention should be to utilise sites in the town centre in 

preference to new out-of-town sites. 

3.2 Promote area to south of town centre for smallscale 

private and social enterprise, including Belford Mill 

social enterprise hub 

The area east and west of Glencairn Street, to the south of 

the town centre, offers opportunities for relatively cheap 

land and buildings for private and social enterprises. At the 

very least, planning policy should reflect this by promoting 

the area as an area where enterprise and entrepreneurialism 

will be actively supported - the implications being that (a) 

planning policy should actively encourage colonisation 

of this area by social and private enterprise and (b) public 

sector partners should collaborate to promote this area for 

these uses, including working with landowners and tenants 

to encourage investment. This should build on the wide 

range of existing private and social enterprise activities that 

already colonise the area, many of them small organisations. 

The area may also offer an opportunity to pilot innovative 

funding measures mentioned in the Scottish Government’s 

recent Regeneration Discussion Paper (February 2010). 

3.3 A design code for the South Centre/Glencairn Area 

The cohesive urban form of much of the centre of Kilmarnock 

deteriorates in a southerly direction along Titchfield Street 

and Glencairn Street. This is potentially an important area 

as it relates closely to the river and to Hope Park. There are 

development opportunities in this area which could assist 

in underlining the blue-green network concept as well as 

helping to improve the urban form of the area. A simple code 

expressing some guidelines for building lines, positions of 

walls, landscaping, the relationship with the river and the 

park as well some of the heritage issues around Glencairn 

Square would be constructive and useful. 

3.4 Continue to build Town Centre Trust Fund 

This Trust Fund was established by the Council in around 

2005 as a repository for income from Section 75 agreements 

etc which was to be used for the benefit of the town centre. 

Such income should continue to be directed to the Trust Fund 

as it becomes available. 

3.5 Annual Kilmarnock Futures Forum to review 

progress + explore future change: collaborative, open to 

all 

The detail of this plan will need to adapt to changing 

circumstances. In line with the plan’s aspirations for 

joint collaborative action to transform the town centre, 

monitoring of progress and reflection should be undertaken 

in an open, collaborative manner. If undertaken regularly, 

for example through an annual public Futures Forum for the 

town, this will help to build and maintain the spectrum of 

support that is required for the plan to succeed. 

3.6 Commit to developing a learning environment within 

the town, drawing together schools, college and learning 

organizations. The approach will be based on collaborative 

action across the community that is designed to extend 

young people’s experience, provide inspiration and achieve 

the culture change that is the essential pre-requisite of 

educational success. It covers the whole period from birth 

(or even shortly before), through schooling and on into 

lifelong learning. 

3.7 Young people’s discount card 

Cost of goods and services, from shops to leisure facilities, 

is a barrier to young people. To enable young people to 

make full use of what the town centre has to offer, and get 

them into the habit of using and viewing the town centre 


positively, there are a number of options for reducing cost 

such as Young Scot and Spreebook discount/loyalty cards. 

The Council should secure, extend and promote these 

arrangements. 

3.8 Encourage social/private enterprise to create 

shoppers’/visitors’ crèche 

This is an example of a specific need that arose through 

consultation: a number of parents suggested that a creche 

facility, centrally placed in the town centre, would encourage 

to come into the town centre to shop and spend time. This 

facility would most likely be a private or social enterprise in 

the vicinity of the bus station or multi-storey car park, using 

either existing floorspace or (in the longer term) new build 

towards the viaduct. 

3.9 Continue 2005 proposal to promote John Finnie St, 

Bank St + Titchfield St for independent enterprises by 

local rates relief 

As in town centres throughout the country, overheads 

such as rates are a significant cost for businesses. The 

previous town centre strategy included a proposal to provide 

local rates relief for independent enterprises, to support 

businesses in fragile parts of the town centre. This remains 

as relevant today as it was in 2005. 

3.9 Develop overall branding/visioning strategy for 

range of markets – including residents, visitors, investors, 

businesses. This is a project being worked up by Make it 

Kilmarnock in parallel. It is crucial that it is integrated into 

the overall Plan, and that there are clear linkages in terms of 

audiences, core messages, and levels of support, provision 

and skills to ensure delivery – e.g. of an even more visitor 

friendly town. 



5 - benefits 

Following the actions of the Kilmarnock Integrated Development 

Plan will bring a range of benefits, including the 

following: 

1. An integrated transformation of the town that will 

combine, physical, economic and social benefits in 

a co-ordinated manner 

2. A contemporary, modernised core that draws 

positively from the towns identity and physical and 

historical attributes, 

3. A positive improvement in overall user experience, 

by putting people as the central priority, making it a 

more attractive as family-friendly place for all ages 

4. A transformation of the place that will support local 

businesses, education and public agencies, providing 

a quality benchmark more able to attract and 

hold residents, customers, visitors. 

and vehicles, together with an enhanced sense of 

safety and well-being. 

11. A re-ordered and calmed movement system, with 

an emphasis on the quality of the experience, not 

simply speed of throughput. 

12. A greater sense of pride in the quality and identity 

of Kilmarnock, progressively enhancing its confidence 

and wider competitiveness. 

13. Commitment to deliver by different agencies, 

organisations and groups in a common purpose, 

generating a dynamic sense of purpose that builds 

achievement in incremental steps. 

5. A shift in the image, brand and investment opportunities 

for Kilmarnock, both from internal and 

external players 

6. Opportunities for new enterprise, growing services, 

and enhanced supply chain relationships within the 

town 

7. A skilled and work-ready population 

8. A town centre that is better connected to its surrounding 

communities, thereby strengthening 

them as well as the whole town 

9. Increased residential occupation in and around the 

town centre core, rebuilding a sense of community 

10. More efficient use of urban space for pedestrians 




6 - next steps 

public realm in King Street 

In taking the Integrated Urban development Plan forward 

there are a number of actions involved. The review and 

refinement ones are listed at the end, and the Proposal 

activity is listed on the matrices below. 

Priority organisational activity would, we suggest, be around 

1. Evolving role for the Make it Kilmarnock Board – 

based on an evolution of the Make it Kilmarnock model, 

to continue to drive an integrated place-based renewal 

strategy, drawing in the key public, private and political 

representatives. This could involve Scottish Government 

representation, if it becomes a key partner. 

2. Annual Futures Forum – this is advocated as an 

outward focusing communication and engagement 

mechanism to local business, residents, civic groups and 

players such as students, social enterprise and potential 

investors (e.g. via agents, architects, etc). Aim is both to 

advise on progress, and also to stimulate and guide new 

projects in the right direction. 

3. Resources – focussing income and funding through the 

Town Centre Trust Fund created in 2005 (see section 3.4) 


The full range of KIUDP projects is listed below, alongside the key actors, where known. 

Category 1 projects: the big interventions 

Timing 

Ref No Project Title Agencies/ Lead (Support) 

Early-0-1. 

Mid, 1-3 

Longer 3+ 

1.1 Diverse use planning policy EAC early 

1.2 One way system interventions Level 1 EAC, (Transport Scotland, police, early 

developers) 

1.3 Top of the Town proposals EAC, (private) early 

1.4 Progress & implement Diageo site proposals Diageo, College, (EAC, SE, Scot Gov, early 

private) 

1.5 College Campus MiK, EAC, SE, College, Scot Gov et al early 

1.6 Developing role for the ‘Make it Kilmarnock’ MiK, EAC, SE, College, Scot Gov et al early 

Advisory Board 

1.7 Bus station behavioural issues EAC, SPT, Police, Stagecoach, NHS early 

1.8 Economic strategy EAC, SE, Chamber early 

Category 2 projects: safeguarding the assets 

Ref No Project Title Agencies-Lead (Support) Timing 

2.1 Blue –green network EAC, private, SG, SEPA, Ayrshire 

Rivers Trust 

early-long 

2.2 Other place-making interventions EAC, (Transport Scotland, 

early 

developers) 

2.3 Life into old buildings EAC (private, Heritage Lottery) early-mid 

2.4 Conservation area repair grants EAC, Trust Fund, Town centre 

early-mid 

Management 

2.5 Town centre Living Initiative EAC, landowners & developers 

early-mid 

Town centre Management 

2.6 Cleansing and maintenance programme EAC, Town centre Management early-mid 

2.7 Extend events programme EAC, Town centre Management early-mid 

2.8 Extend Shop Local campaign EAC, Town centre Management early 

2.9 Temporary uses initiative EAC, Town centre Management early-mid 

2.10 Employers retention & support EAC, (SE, College, Chamber) early-mid 



Category 3: Joining it Together projects 

Ref No Project Title Agencies-Lead (Support) Timing 

3.1 Resist out of town displacement EAC (private) early-long 

3.2 Encourage small-scale private and social 

EAC, (SG, private) 

early-mid 

enterprise to south of town centre 

3.3 Design Code for South Centre / Glencairn EAC early 

3.4 Build Town Centre Trust Fund EAC, private early-long 

3.5 Annual Kilmarnock Futures Forum MiK, EAC, Chamber et al early-long 

3.6 Learning town approach MiK, College, (EAC, Chamber) early-long 

3.7 Young people’s discount card MIK, town centre management mid-long 

3.8 Social enterprise business support EAC, SE, social enterprise early-mid 

3.9 Local rates relief – independents &start-ups EAC, (district valuer, SG) mid 

3.10 Branding strategy MiK, EAC, (chamber) mid 

Decisions have to be taken to focus resources on what 

really matters in and around the town centre. It would be 

potentially possible to prepare an Urban Development Plan 

that contains detailed proposals for each neighbourhood of 

Kilmarnock and potential future expansion areas, but this 

would displace effort and investment, for less economic and 

social return. There is a need for focussed connected action 

on the town centre as the shared social and economic space 

of the community, and avoid the great risk in spreading the 

jam too thinly when resources are limited. 

We consider the above listed projects provide an integrated 

means of turning the town around through a series of 

transformational steps. 




appendix 1 - list of consultees 


• the people of Kilmarnock 

• A P Paint Supplies 

• Bellway Scotland 

• Burns Mall 

• Centre Stage 

• Create Communications 

• CVO East Ayrshire 

• David Faulds and Son Ltd 

• Diageo 

• Dick Institute 

• East Ayrshire Council 

• East Ayrshire North Communities Federation 

• Easton Property 

• Fanny by Gaslight 

• Galleon Centre 

• Goldberry Arms 

• Grange Howard Community Council 

• Heal the Earth Ayrshire 

• Historic Scotland 

• Hope Homes 

• James Barr and Son 

• James Hamilton Academy 

• Kev’s Kards 

• Kilmarnock Local History Society 

• Kilmarnock South Elderly Forum 

• Loanhead Primary School 

• Killie Trust 

• Kilmarnock Academy 

• Kilmarnock College 

• Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association 

• Mahle Engineers 

• Make it Kilmarnock Board 


• Network Rail 

• Rainbow Ink Co 

• St Josephs Academy 

• Scottish Enterprise 

• Scottish Natural Heritage 

• Sinforiani Brothers 

• Skillseekers groups in Bellfield and New Farm Loch 

• The Pet Shop 

• Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire 

• Young Scot 



appendix 2 - consultation elements 

This appendix identifies the approximately 500 people who 

were consulted during the course of this study. 

The first round of consultation began in November 2010, 

and sought to engage range of people and organisations in 

discussion about the issues and challenges that the study 

should address. 

Young people 

Loanhead Primary School 8 November 2010 classroom session 20 people 

Kilmarnock Academy 1 November 2010 Pupils Council 9 people 

James Hamilton Academy 13 November 2010 assembly 120 people 

St Joseph’s Academy 13 November 2010 focus groups 21 students 

Kilmarnock College (Students Association) 8 November 2010 meeting 1 person 

Skillseekers (Bellfield) 16 November 2010 focus group 11 people 

Skillseekers (New Farm Loch) 23 November 2010 focus group 8 people 

Workshops 

Agency workshop 1 24 November 2010 daytime workshop 29 people 

Community workshop 30 November 2010 evening workshop 13 people 

Business 

Business discussion 25 November 2010 2 drop-in sessions 17 people 

Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association 1 February 2011 evening session 19 people 

Shoppers and town centre users 

Burns Mall stall 11 December 2010 short interviews 54 people 

Galleon Centre and Dick Institute questionnaires 11-31 December 2010 questionnaires 2 people 

Young Scot infomobile at the Cross 13 January 2011 short interviews 155 people 2 

Disabled and elderly people 

Kilmarnock South Elderly Forum January 2011 letter 1 person 

1 included representatives from CVO East Ayrshire, East 

Ayrshire Council (elected members, Arts and Culture, Asset 

Management, Business Development, Community Planning, 

Estates, Planning, Roads and Transportation), Historic 

Scotland, Killie Trust, Kilmarnock College, Kilmarnock Retail 

Trades Association, Make it Kilmarnock, Network Rail, 

Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire 

2 80 of the 155 interviewed were young people, whose age 

ranges are shown in the table overleaf. 


stakeholder walkabout 23/11/2010 


Loanhead Primary School workshop 



The second round of consultation took place in March 2011, 

in the form of two workshops. At these workshops, the draft 

vision and proposals were presented and tested with people 

drawn from a range of public, private and voluntary sector 

organisations (as well as local residents) who had been 

involved in the first round of consultation. 

Daytime workshop 8 March 2011 35 people 

Evening workshop 10 March 2011 12 people 

age in years number of responses 

11 1 

12 11 

13 8 

14 8 

15 5 

total aged 11-15 33 responses 

16 11 

17 7 

18 8 

19 9 

20 1 


21 

22 3 

23 3 

24 1 

25 2 


26 

27 

28 1 

29 

30 1 



kevin 

murray 

associates 

Fergus House 

127 Fergus Drive 

Glasgow G20 6BY 

t: 0141 945 3651 mob: 07801 239066 

km@kevinmurrayassociates.com www.kevinmurrayassociates.com

Integrated Urban Development Plan (pdf) - Make It Kilmarnock

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