Integrated Urban Development Plan (pdf) - Make It Kilmarnock

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
Category 2 contains the following proposals:
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.
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