TWO Ayrshire businessmen are set to bring a prime shopping location in Galston back to life which used to house a local Co-op store.

Gareth Downie, managing director of Downie Capital, and Paul McIvor, managing director of AQS Ltd, have joined forces to transform the former Co-op outlet.

Subject to planning permission which was submitted in mid-September, the project will see the opening of a new Farmfoods supermarket.

The proposed development will be called Loudoun Retail Park and is a huge boost for retail diversity in the Irvine Valley town.

Galston lost the Co-op store in 2018 after a new Tesco supermarket opened nearby. The development plans to incorporate eight Ultra rapid EV parking bays, hosted by Swarco.

Mr Downie said: “It will be great to be able to bring this building back to life and, more importantly, create a significant number of jobs within quality national retailers.

“Paul and I both grew up in the Irvine Valley and I attended Loudoun Academy, just 500 metres from the site, and would go to the Co-op for my lunch. The Co-op closed in 2018 and had lain empty for six years until we purchased it.

(Image: Contributed) “Farmfoods is taking 11,000sq ft of space and another 5,000 sq ft available which can be divided into three retail units and we’ve already had interest in these from a number of national retailers.

"There will be an additional 2,500 sq ft of office space at Loudoun Retail Park. We will also be using local contractors for all constructions works and expect to create more than 60 long term jobs.”

He added: “Galston may be a relatively small town, but its catchment area is much wider and there is a huge amount of passing traffic at Loudoun Retail Park.

“We have 100 parking bays on our site, with a branch of Screwfix and Tesco adjacent to our site.

"Another benefit of the parking spaces available is the potential for click-and-collect and food delivery opportunities in the future to serve the rest of Irvine Valley.

“Closure of the Co-op has been detrimental to the prosperity of Irvine Valley, and, with the proposed revival of this significant retail site, we hope to see locals and people from further afield make use of Galston’s newly enhanced retail facilities.”