Kilmarnock Masterplan consultation opens 31 August

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-27 13:13 3 min read

An elevated aerial view of a historic British town with brick buildings and viaduct.

Kilmarnock residents, businesses and visitors will have six weeks to comment on a proposed new direction for the town centre. The online consultation opens on Monday 31 August and runs until Sunday 11 October, alongside free face-to-face engagement sessions at venues across Kilmarnock.

When: Monday 31 August to Sunday 11 October
Where: Online and at various venues across Kilmarnock
Cost: Free; booking arrangements have not yet been provided
Who can take part: People who live in, work in or visit Kilmarnock

East Ayrshire Council launched the consultation after elected members agreed the Masterplan vision on Thursday 27 August. The proposal covers how Kilmarnock town centre could change through short- and long-term projects, with approximately £100 million earmarked by the council over the life of the plan.

Six themes will shape the town centre discussion

The document, titled “The Vision for Kilmarnock Town Centre – A New Chapter”, is organised around six themes:

Sense of place
Climate
Connectivity
Vacant buildings, retail and business development
Heritage, leisure and public realm
Town centre living

Together, they frame questions about how the centre should look, function and support daily life. The vision also connects the condition of buildings and public spaces with the local economy, the environment and the wellbeing of people using the area.

Kilmarnock Masterplan consultation opens 31 August

This is the first stage of the Masterplan rather than a finished programme of works. The council says its proposals were developed with partners, community groups, businesses and residents, but the consultation now gives the wider public an opportunity to challenge priorities, ask questions and suggest what should receive attention.

Kilmarnock’s previous Masterplan was designed by Percy Johnson-Marshall during the period of major town-centre redevelopment in the 1960s. Although that vision was not completed in full, it helped shape the town seen today. The new process reflects changes in shopping habits, working patterns and the ways people use town centres.

How to contribute from 31 August

People can respond through the online consultation at any point before it closes on 11 October. East Ayrshire Council is also arranging public engagement sessions at venues around Kilmarnock, allowing participants to ask questions and contribute in person.

Individual venue addresses, session dates and start times have not been included in the information released so far. Booking or entry arrangements and accessibility details have also not been provided; the council is expected to supply practical information for the individual sessions.

Before responding, participants can review the Masterplan vision document and the associated Council Report. Those documents set out the proposed priorities and provide the basis for comments on the six themes.

Public feedback will inform the next stage

Council leader Douglas Reid said successful developments depend on working with the people most affected by them. He encouraged anyone with an interest in Kilmarnock to examine the proposals and comment, adding that every contribution would be read and considered.

The council has identified approximately £100 million for work over the proposed Masterplan’s lifetime. It also says private and other external investment will be needed to deliver the wider vision, making the consultation an early step in determining which ambitions are both achievable and capable of attracting support.

Comments must be submitted by Sunday 11 October. Anyone seeking details of the forthcoming face-to-face sessions can follow East Ayrshire Council’s Masterplan updates as venue and entry information becomes available.

Source: East Ayrshire Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The consultation dates, participation routes, themes and funding figure were checked against East Ayrshire Council’s published announcement.

Checks

Confirmed that the online consultation runs from 31 August to 11 October 2026.
Confirmed that free face-to-face sessions are planned at various Kilmarnock venues.
Checked the six Masterplan themes against the council’s published list.
Kept unannounced venue addresses, times and booking arrangements clearly identified as una...

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