The money will be used by the council to develop proposals to help transform Burns Statue Square in Ayr.

The proposals centre on three main themes - the regeneration of Burns Statue Square, a shopfront improvements scheme and an active travel route linking the town centre to Prestwick Airport.

Details will start to emerge on proposals which include plans for new public spaces, events areas, and information points. Businesses on the square and within the town centre could also benefit from a scheme to help revitalise tired shopfronts.

Councillor Bob Shields, portfolio holder for Developing South Ayrshire, said: “We need to make more of this part of Ayr. There has been some progress with the new Astoria Cinema generating footfall and we need to build on this momentum.

“We will be looking at how traffic currently accesses the town, we’ll also be promoting active travel and how we can work with partners to develop a transport interchange where trains, buses, and taxis could all operate from one central location.”

There will be a number of public consultations on the plans both this year and next year before construction would start in the summer of 2026. All being well, the project should take two years to complete.