A NEW office block in one of Irvine’s busiest streets will cost £2.6million to build.

Council chiefs this week awarded the contract for the East Park project in Quarry Road - as part of a £5million regeneration plan - to Paisley firm Clark Contracts Ltd.

And North Ayrshire Council have refused to deny that talks to merge Townhead and Frew Terrace surgeries into the complex are at an advanced stage.

The development is the first stage of the multi-million pound regeneration of the Quarry Road area which includes plans for a 3G football arena, playing fields and potentially a cinema.

Those proposals, however, will only come to fruition if Scottish Government funding is secured.

Based adjacent to Irvine Bay Gymnastics Club, the two-storey building will be the new home for KA Leisure and Ayrshire Business Gateway once it’s complete.

But a number of residents - and Irvine Councillor Ian Clarkson - were concerned about increased traffic problems.

Back in August, the East Park office development was approved by planning chiefs.

The council are now, however, in a race against the clock to get the project finished in 45 weeks due to time constraints on the funding.

The total value for the ‘Design & Build’ contract is £2,591,122.32.

Clark Contracts Ltd say they will deliver two new entrant apprentice joiners, two new entrant labourers, one new entrant quantity surveyor and three separate work placements for two pupils and a teacher.

The Times previously told how plans were afoot to merge both Frew Terrace and Townhead Surgeries to the East Park development.

Townhead Surgery was previously tipped to close but no firm proposals were ever put forward.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The second phase proposals will comprise a sports and community element and these will continue to be developed in discussion with funders.

“We are consulting with the Health and Social Care Partnership to determine what kind of health and care facility might be needed within Irvine in the future and whether Quarry Road would be a suitable location for any new development.

“But, at this stage, there are no firm proposals in place.”