New look Bridgegate House

Dec 11 2009 by Lex Brown, Irvine Herald

THIS is how the refurbished Bridgegate House shop and office block in Irvine will look after a £3.3m makeover.

North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay Regeneration have teamed up to give the tired building – the first commercial venture by the former Irvine Development Corporation – a glass-fronted facelift.

Both organisations considered two options – the other was stone-clad – but the council have plumped for the cheaper of the suggestions.

The preferred option would replace the existing leaking curtain walled systems with glazed panels.

On the first floor the existing sloping panels would be replaced to bring it into line with the rest of the building.

A screen of louvres would run in front of the glazed panels to provide privacy front street level and to shade the glass from strong sunlight.

The alternative was to clad the three storey building in natural stone and timber.

But it would have cost almost £500,000 more.

The council executive heard the outside of the building had deteriorated to such an extend that it was unattractive in a cosmetic and environmental sense.

The improvement work will both reverse the physical decline and put in place an “iconic building” which will lift the surrounding area.

Both options fulfilled the requirements.

But the executive was told there was only enough cash available to both the council and Irvine Bay to fund the glazed option.

The report added: “There is the potential for Bridgegate House to be more fully utilised in the future and releasing other accommodation within the Irvine area.”

This week the executive agreed to go ahead with the glazed scheme.

One councillor told the Irvine Herald: “The building may have been okay in its heyday 30 odd years ago but it just doesn’t fit in with today’s ideas of a modern shop and office block.”

“This should be a big improvement.”

Council leader David O’Neill said: “This work will help revitalise the town centre making Irvine and indeed North Ayrshire a more attractive place to work, live and do business.”

Patrick Wiggins, boss of Irvine Bay Regeneration, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with North Ayrshire Council on such an important facelift for a key building in the centre of the town.

“This along with work already being undertaken on the Trinity Church will greatly enhance the town centre and bring a new vitality to the area.”