Integrated Urban Development Plan (pdf) - Make It Kilmarnock

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
14 | MAKE IT KILMARNOCK BOARD | EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL