By Kevin Dyson

Copyright dailyrecord

South Ayrshire Council is preparing to commit more than £1.6 million to key regeneration projects in Troon, with upgrades to the town’s Municipal Buildings and swimming pool at the centre of the plans. A report going before councillors today recommends that £1 million from the Troon Regeneration Capital Budget is allocated to refurbish the Town Hall, Concert Hall and Walker Hall. The proposed works include a new bar, upgraded stage lighting and rigging, improved catering facilities, and modernised dressing rooms, and aims to make the historic venues more attractive for community use and commercial hires. Alongside this, £150,000 would be set aside for design and feasibility work on improving the public realm around the Municipal Buildings, creating what officers describe as a “Civic Quarter”. The intention is to support the growth of a ‘café culture’ in the town centre and develop space for outdoor activity and public events. A further £500,000 is earmarked for an extension to the swimming pool at Troon Leisure Club, where plans are already under way to expand the gym. The additional funding would provide a second fitness studio, allowing for a wider programme of group exercise classes and health programmes. Council officers believe this could deliver more than £214,000 extra income per year and support an additional 400 members. The proposals are part of a £2 million capital investment package for Troon agreed earlier this year. That budget was created with the aim of encouraging footfall in the town, boosting local businesses, and making Troon a destination for residents and visitors. A long list of potential projects was considered, including traffic management changes, shopfront improvements, redevelopment of the former M&Co building, and support for the Old Parish Church. Following an options appraisal, the Municipal Buildings, swimming pool and Civic Quarter were ranked as the highest priorities for immediate investment. The report acknowledges that there are risks. The swimming pool expansion is based on projected demand, and officers warn the facility could operate at a deficit if this does not materialise. There is also a risk that the absence of public consultation on the initial recommendations could prompt concerns in the community about alternative priorities. However, rejecting the projects, the report argues, would mean missing opportunities for “transformational impacts” in the town centre. If councillors back the recommendations, work on the Municipal Buildings and pool extension would be completed by the end of 2026. The Civic Quarter designs would be developed by March 2026, with the possibility of public consultation before final approval. That would still leave £350,000 of the original £2m regeneration budget unallocated, with decisions on how best to use the remainder to follow at a later date.