Cunninghame Housing Association has purchased Quay Office at Ardrossan Marina.
This helps to ensure that Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA) remains in Ardrossan. It also brings jobs at CHA over the next five years, given their anticipated 100% growth in our housing stock over the next five years.
CHA have plans to refurbish their existing premises and set up a Community Enterprise Trust to provide office accommodation for small to medium sized enterprises and Training and Employment opportunities for North Ayrshire residents. This will bring additional employment opportunities into Ardrossan and will also have a positive impact on local shops and businesses.
Frank Sweeney, Chief Executive of Cunninghame Housing Association, said:
“Given our projected growth and the projected additional recruitment of staff we are absolutely delighted that we have been able to purchase the offices, which allow us to remain in Ardrossan. In particular, I would like to put on record my thanks to the local MP, MSP and various, not all, local councillors who wrote letters of support to the Irvine Bay Board, from whom we purchased these excellent facilities.
“This is a sizeable investment that the Association is making in Ardrossan and to the Town Centre. We would hope that the debate on the future of the local Harbour is concluded quickly to allow us to develop our future initiatives for our tenants and the community.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP and Ardrossan and Arran Councillor John Hunter attended the offices last week and both were filled with enthusiasm.
Mr Gibson added:
“This will be a key part in the regeneration of Ardrossan. What we anticipate is an increase in the number of jobs from about 125 to 150 which alone will provide a local boost for the area and CHA are even talking about a community café which can only increase economic activity in this part of Ardrossan. It’s a wonderful building and it shows CHA’s commitment to keep Ardrossan at the heart of their operations. It will be a big lift to staff working in such an attractive environment.
“It’s a vote of confidence in Ardrossan and obviously we have a decision in a couple of months about the ferry route to Arran. The confidence CHA has shown will be a big boost and will help dot the I’s and cross the T’s on that decision so it is a really good day for Ardrossan and a great day for Cunninghame Housing Association, its staff and its customers.”
Independent Councillor John Hunter commented:
“First of all I am delighted that the building is going to come into major use and not just a portion of it. I am very glad that it is Cunninghame Housing Association. They will keep their premises in Glasgow Street open for other businesses such as social enterprise companies so it’s not as if it is just moving from one place to another, it will create more jobs. It shows a vitality and an energy about the place and when you see it at night lit up it looks great too.”
The association will share a part of the building with BPO Collections moving from the Grange Business Centre in Stevenston.
ENDS
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