In 1895, when Robert Ingram designed the magnificent Mauchline sandstone building at 30 -38 John Finnie Street he couldn’t have known that over a hundred years later it would be renamed in his honour.
Work has just started on the new Ingram Enterprise Centre, the latest in a series of 22 buildings in Kilmarnock’s historic quarter to undergo a comprehensive programme of restoration and refurbishment funded jointly by the Council’s £5m Kilmarnock Town Centre Fund, the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through the Kilmarnock Townscape Heritage Initiative (KTHI)
The project is one of many carried out in recent years to allow owners of older buildings to help them pay for sympathetic repairs, using traditional methods and materials to make them wind and watertight and fit for use in the 21st Century.
Businesses throughout Kilmarnock have benefited from the opportunity to win grant funding to upgrade and redevelop their premises. Jobs have been created and derelict buildings brought back into use along the way.
But this project, costing £4.8 million, will go one step further to help the local economy by creating a flexible suite of high quality, serviced accommodation with a variety of office spaces and conference suites available with flexible letting arrangements for fledgling and growing businesses.
Council Leader, Douglas Reid and Cabinet Member for Economy Jim Buchanan visited the site to see the work starting. Councillor Reid said: ”We’re delighted to get this massive project underway. The work we’ve already done in John Finnie Street, rebuilding the Opera House, Johnnie Walker Bond, refurbishing the council offices on John Dickie Street and the works carried out at the Railway Station, Fanny by Gaslight and WG13 have all enhanced this end of the town.
"This building stood out like a sore thumb due to the level of dilapidation. We’re really looking forward to seeing it finished this time next year.
“John Finnie Street is much the better for the number of building owners who’ve participated in our Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) and this step helps further restore our pride in the magnificent architectural heritage of the town.”
Councillor Buchanan added: “This is another example of how regeneration does more than just restore old buildings. We’re not just going to bring a little used, semi derelict building back into use, it will be an integral part of the economic life of the town. By giving young and growing companies a chance to benefit from competitive rents, business services and a low maintenance building, we’re helping keep their costs down, providing town centre premises where they can benefit from the synergy to be gained from working alongside other businesses, close to the huge range of services companies, such as banks, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and IT consultants which are based around John Finnie Street.
“We’re passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship, and we’ve got a strong business support team on hand just round the corner in the Johnnie Walker Building who will be on hand to help the new tenants. Roll on next Spring!”