North Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Àir a Tuath, ) is one of 32 council areas in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

. The council area borders Inverclyde to the north,

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Re ...

and East Renfrewshire to the northeast, and East Ayrshire and

South Ayrshire South Ayrshire ( sco, Sooth Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir a Deas, ) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. On 30 June ...

to the east and south respectively. The local authority is North Ayrshire Council, formed in 1997 and following similar boundaries to the district of Cunninghame. Located in the west central Lowlands with the

Firth of Clyde The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...

to its west, the council area covers the northern portion of the historic county of

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine, North Ayrshi ...

, in addition to the islands forming Buteshire. It has a population of roughly people. with its largest settlements at Irvine and

Kilwinning Kilwinning (, sco, Kilwinnin; gd, Cill D’Fhinnein) is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is on the River Garnock, north of Irvine, about southwest of Glasgow. It is known as "The Crossroads of Ayrshire". Kilwinning was also a Civil P ...

History and formation

The area was created in 1996 as a successor to the district of Cunninghame. The council headquarters are located in Irvine, which is the largest town. The area also contains the towns of Ardrossan, Beith, Dalry, Kilbirnie,

, Largs, Saltcoats, Skelmorlie,

Stevenston Stevenston ( sco, Steenstoun, gd, Baile Steaphain) is a town and parish in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats it is one of the " Three Towns", all of similar size, on the Firth of Clyde coast; the easternmost parts ...

, West Kilbride, as well as the

Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran (; sco, Isle o Arran; gd, Eilean Arainn) or simply Arran is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh-largest Scottish island, at . Historically part of Butesh ...

and Great and Little Cumbrae. The Isle of Arran covers nearly half of the council area's territory, but is home to less than 4% of the population. North Ayrshire is known for its rural countryside, coastlines, beaches and landmarks. The towns in the north of the area, Skelmorlie, Largs, Fairlie and West Kilbride are affluent commuting towns and with them being on the coast, are very popular with tourists during the summer months. Towns in the south include Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. Towards the south of the area is Kilwinning and Irvine, the main settlement and largest town in the area. The inland towns of Dalry, Kilbirnie and Beith were steel towns with large steel mills, but these are long gone. Tourism is the main industry on Arran and Cumbrae; however, the number of holiday homes on the latter has begun to squeeze locals out of the housing market. Regeneration is currently taking place at Ardrossan Harbour and Irvine town centre, and there has been a rapid increase in the construction of new housing in recent years. Kelburn Castle, Fairlie, is the home of the 10th Earl of Glasgow, Patrick Robin Archibald Boyle. The grounds have belonged to the Boyle family since the 1100s. In 2007, the castle was transformed by the Graffiti Project.

Isle of Arran

From the 17th to the late 20th century, Arran was part of the County of Bute. After the 1975 reorganisation of local government, Arran became part of the district of Cunninghame in Strathclyde Region. This two-tier system of local government lasted until 1996 when the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 came into effect, abolishing the regions and districts and replacing them with 32 council areas. Arran is now in the North Ayrshire council area, along with some of the other constituent islands of the former County of Bute. For some statistical purposes Arran is within the registration county of

Bute Bute or BUTE may refer to: People * Marquess of Bute, a title in the Peerage of Great Britain; includes lists of baronets, earls and marquesses of Bute * Lord of Bute, a title in medieval Scotland, including a list of lords * Lucian Bute (born ...

, and for ceremonial purposes it forms part of the

lieutenancy area Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily coterminate with, the co ...

Ayrshire and Arran Ayrshire and Arran is a lieutenancy area of Scotland. It consists of the council areas of East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. The area of Ayrshire and Arran is also a brand for tourist attractions. The area has joint electoral, ...

. In the House of Commons, since 2005 it has been part of the Ayrshire North and Arran constituency, represented since 2015 by Patricia Gibson of the SNP. It is marginal between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives. It had been part of Cunninghame North from 1983 to 2005, and of Ayrshire North and Bute from 1918 to 1983. In the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holy ...

, Arran is part of the constituency of Cunninghame North, currently represented by Kenneth Gibson of the Scottish National Party (SNP). The Labour Party held the seat until 2007, when the SNP gained it by 48 votes, making it the most marginal seat in Holyrood until 2011, when the SNP increased its majority to 6,117 over Labour.

Economy

A View From Millport Isle Of Cumbrae - panoramio

North Ayrshire has a slightly higher level of unemployment compared to the Scottish average. North Ayrshire launched an Economic Recovery and Renewal Strategy in September 2020 focusing on economic recovery and a renewal approach which aims to sets out a comprehensive plan for an inclusive and green economic recovery for North Ayrshire. A £8.8 million Investment Fund will be used as a key element of a Green New Deal by: * Maximising renewable energy generation using the council's land and assets * The creation of a new Green Jobs Fund to ensure a just transition for North Ayrshire; * Investing in commercial estate including improving sustainability; * Tackling vacant and derelict land and buildings in town centres; * Supporting community economic development including through community regeneration and ownership * A tree-planting programme to support carbon absorption In May 2020, North Ayrshire Council became the first council in Scotland to become a Community Wealth Building (CWB) Council, setting out a new economic model focused on wellbeing and inclusion. North Ayrshire Council seeks to use Community Wealth Building objectives to support the recovery and renewal of North Ayrshire by creating an economy that works for people, place and planet. The North Ayrshire approach will see the creation of a new £660,000 Community Wealth Building Business Fund to provide assistance to local business and facilitating the development of co-operatives, employee ownership and social enterprises, supporting local supply chains, fair employment, digital adoption and the transition to a green economy. North Ayrshire is to benefit from the Ayrshire Growth Deal, an economic plan created by both the Scottish Government and

UK Government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_est ...

. The £250 million Ayrshire Growth Deal is also central to the plans to support economic recovery through a bold and ambitious investment programme to create and secure jobs within the area of North Ayrshire.

Government

The SNP formed a minority administration in the North Ayrshire council area in May 2012, however, they were replaced by the Labour Party following a by-election in Irvine West in 2016. At the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

, North Ayrshire is covered by the Central Ayrshire and North Ayrshire and Arran Parliamentary constituencies, both of which are represented by MPs belonging to the Scottish National Party. In the

, the council area is divided into Cunninghame North and Cunninghame South, both represented by MSPs from the Scottish National Party.

Wards

As of 2017, the council area is divided into ten multi-member wards returning 33 members, composed as follows:Council Area: North Ayrshire
Scottish Government Statistics * Irvine West (4 seats) * Irvine East (3 seats) *

(4 seats) *

(3 seats) * Ardrossan and Arran (3 seats) * Dalry and West Kilbride (3 seats) * Kilbirnie and Beith (3 seats) * North Coast and Cumbraes (4 seats) * Saltcoats (3 seats) * Irvine South (3 seats)

Towns and villages

The main administration centre and largest settlement in North Ayrshire is Irvine, a

new town New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

on the coast of the

, with a population of 33,698. The second biggest settlement is Kilwinning which has a population of over 18,000. Other major population centres include Largs, and the ' Three Towns' - Ardrossan, Saltcoats and

. On the

, the largest village is Lamlash and there are numerous smaller villages. On Great Cumbrae, the only town on the island is Millport.

Towns (mainland)

* Ardrossan * Beith * Dalry * Irvine * Kilbirnie *

* Largs * Saltcoats *

* West Kilbride

Villages (mainland)

Irvine's steeples, North Ayrshire, Scotland

* Ardeer * Auchentiber * Barrmill * Benslie * Dreghorn * Drybridge * Fairlie * Gateside * Girdle Toll *

Glengarnock Glengarnock (Gaelic: ''Gleann Gairneig'') is a small village in North Ayrshire that lies near the west coast of Scotland. It forms part of the Garnock Valley area and is about from Glasgow, the nearest city. The Barony of Glengarnock is one of ...

Longbar Longbar is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland, immediately to the east of Glengarnock. History Longbar is now a housing estate situated on the low hillside above the Longbar Farm. Originally it was a string of single-storey terraced cottages (r ...

* Skelmorlie *

Springside Springside may refer to: Australia * Springside, Queensland, a locality in the Toowoomba Region Canada * Springside, Saskatchewan, a town United Kingdom *Springside, North Ayrshire, a village in Scotland United States * Springside (Poug ...

* Stanecastle

Suburbs (mainland)

* Barkip *

Broomlands Broomlands is district of Irvine in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Situated on a series of bends in the River Annick, Broomlands and its original features are now almost lost within the south-Bourtreehill and Broomlands housing scheme. History T ...

Bourtreehill Bourtreehill is a large housing estate built by the Irvine Development Corporation (IDC) in the late 1970s which forms part of the Irvine New Town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The estate has two main parts, known as Bourtreehill North and Bour ...

* Burnhouse * Castlepark *

Crosbie Crosbie is a name. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Crosbie E. Saint, an American military officer Surname *Annette Crosbie, Scottish television actress *Ches Crosbie, Newfoundland lawyer and politician *Chesley Crosbie, Newfoundl ...

* Chapeltoun *

Cunninghamhead Cunninghamhead is a hamlet on the Annick Water in the Parish of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The area was part of the old Cunninghamhead estate, and once contained several watermills. Cunninghamhead and the mills on the Annick Water The ...

* Dalgarven * Drakemyre * Eglinton * Fergushill *

Fullarton Fullarton is a small area in Irvine, North Ayrshire. It is situated close to Irvine Bay and is next to several industrial estates, large supermarkets and retail stores and the town centre itself. Stagecoach Western buses operate the local bus se ...

* Giffordland * Greenhills * Hessilhead hamlet *

Highfield Highfield may refer to: Places ;Places in England * Highfield, Bolton * Highfield, Derbyshire * Highfield, Gloucestershire *Highfield, Southampton *Highfield, Hertfordshire a neighbourhood in Hemel Hempstead * Highfield, Oxfordshire * Highfield, S ...

* Hunterston * Kelburn * Lawthorn *

Lylestone Lylestone is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The habitation is situated between Kilwinning and Auchentiber on the B778. It was originally built as a row of housing for quarry workers. History Lord Lyle was a local l ...

* Meigle *

Meikle Auchengree Meikle Auchengree is a hamlet near Kilbirnie and Longbar in North Ayrshire, Scotland. History Meikle Auchengree is east of Glengarnock in Dalry parish. The hamlet is situated at the north end of the Auchengree Road which runs between the B7 ...

* Montgreenan * Nettlehirst *

Perceton Perceton is a medieval settlement and old country estate in North Ayrshire, Scotland, near the town of Irvine. The ruined church in Perceton is one of the oldest buildings in the Irvine district. The earliest legible gravestone dates from 1698, t ...

* Portencross * Routenburn * Seamill * Sevenacres * Shewalton * Torranyard

Villages (Isle of Arran)

* Birchburn * Blackwaterfoot *

Brodick Brodick ( , gd, Tràigh a' Chaisteil ("Castle Beach") or ''Breadhaig'') is the main village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It is halfway along the east coast of the island, in Brodick Bay below Goat Fell, the tallest mo ...

* Catacol * Cladach * Corrie * Dippen * Kildonan * Kilmory *

Lagg Lagg may refer to: *Lagg, Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland **, see Arran distillery *Lagg, Jura, Argyll and Bute, Scotland *Lagg (landform) *Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-1, a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II * Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG ...

* Lamlash * Lochranza * Machrie * Pirnmill * Sannox * Shiskine * Sliddery *

Whitefarland Whitefarland ( gd, An Aoirinn) is a clachan on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotlan ...

* Whiting Bay

Settlements (Great Cumbrae)

* Millport

Places of interest

* Kelburn Castle * Barrmill Park * Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park * Eglinton Country Park, Irvine * Eglinton Tournament Bridge * Irvine Harbour * Spier's Old School Grounds

References

External links

* {{Authority control Council areas of Scotland Highlands and Islands of Scotland Firth of Clyde