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Irvine has seen rapid growth in the value of property due to many
factors the main being the transport infrastructure which offers
ease for commuting to major employment areas such as Glasgow and the
proximity to Prestwick airport which offers scheduled flights to
London airports with Ryanair.An
ancient royal burgh with I 3th-ccnt. origins, once an outstanding
port, hall-way between troon and saltcoats on
the Firth of Clyde:, has been converted into Scotland's fifth 'New Town', the
first in Britain to be on the sea, of which full advantage is being
taken. The New Town project emerged, rather unexpectedly, from the
former Town Council's enterprising establishment of its own
industriaI estate in 1960. This was a success, and in 1967 an area
of 20 sq. m. from the coast between
barassie and
ardeer, and taking in
Irvine itself, kilwining
and several villages, was designated Irvine New Town. By 1976 the
population had grown to more than 50,000, with more than 150
industries. some of these firms coming from Australia, Canada, the
United States, Sweden and other European countries |
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With a target population of 116,000 by the
late '80s, housing was rising at the rate of
2,000 units a year, and factory construction
at 300.000 sq. ft. A £3.000,000 leisure centre
had opened with every conceivable indoor
amenity.
Ample provision had been made for outdoor
sport and 50 acres at the sea front had been
made into a beach park. But sadly the ancient
heart of the old town had been torn out to
give way to a shopping complex, all
undercover, fully pedestrianized and with its
own controlled 'climate'. Irvine also had high
hopes of benefits from the
elaborate developments at
hunterston. 12 miles from its boundary. Maybe the new Irvine will remember, or somehow
commemorate, its links with the distant past
and more recently with Robert Burns, who went
there to learn flax-dressing in 1781: that its
Bogside racecourse dating back to 1806 is one
of the oldest in the country, and that its
existence owes such to the Montgomeries. earls
of Eglinton. round whose ancient Eglinton
Castle, mercifully was created a 1.700-acre
park with three golf courses boating,
gardening centres and other outdoor
activities. |
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