COUNCILLORS "remain confident" that a multi-million-pound regeneration of Ardrossan's North Shore will go ahead - despite the project hitting delays.

As exclusively revealed by the Herald last month, work to prepare the former Shell Oil site for a new school and housing development has been pushed back after a tender for this stage of the scheme failed to secure a contractor.

Just two bids were received for the near-£23 million enabling works - involving the construction of a sea wall, remediation of the North Shore site, and the provision of onsite road and utilities - following the launch of the procurement process in November.

Remediation works were initially anticipated to begin this spring, with a 2023 completion date in mind.

However, a report prepared for a meeting of North Ayrshire Council's cabinet on Tuesday said a delay to the Ardrossan Community Campus opening is now "inevitable".

The Herald was previously told that it was “unlikely" that the new school will meet its previously-expected date of August 2025.

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The £170 million package of works for the town has been billed as "the most exciting the area has ever seen", and includes the education campus - incorporating a new Ardrossan Academy and Winton Primary School, as well as a marine and commercial development and up to 150 houses.

The council report said: "While the majority of the 63 contractors who had registered interest in the project did not have the required scale or experience to undertake the works, five or six responses from major contractors were expected.

"Following an extensive evaluation, it was determined that the two tenders were non-compliant, so NAC were unable to award the contract.

"The highly challenging environment including contractors being very selective in projects that they bid for, skills shortages, volatility in the price of materials, uncertainty in supply chains, global market uncertainties and construction inflation have undoubtedly played a part in this particular tender process.

"The level of contractor risk may also be a significant issue as the council sought to transfer as much of the risk as possible in this highly complex programme.

"The immediate concern has been the impact on the programme of construction of particularly the Ardrossan Community Campus given that tight timelines have been established as part of the funding package."

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The report said that discussions have since been held with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) - who are providing half of the funding for the campus development - and they have been "very constructive in their support" for the project.

According to the council, the nationally significant regeneration programme will "establish Ardrossan as a major centre for lifelong learning and academic achievement, a tourism destination of choice, a multi-modal transport hub, the gateway to Arran and the Clyde Islands and recognition as an exemplar in marine innovation and the blue economy".

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for economy and climate change, said: “Everyone is aware of the unique challenges right now.

"We have held really positive discussions with SFT and we will explore various options and ascertain the best route forward.

 “There are always bumps on the road in projects of this scale but we are very confident these can be overcome. We look forward to sharing more information over the coming weeks.”

A detailed update with further information on timescales and when work will commence will be provided to the council's cabinet in November.