Government plans to buy Ardrossan Harbour take 'significant step forward'

Major plans to bring Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership have taken a significant step forward, North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns has confirmed.

The North Ayrshire port faces an uncertain future because two new CalMac ferries ordered for the Arran route are too big to fit the existing facilities.

The Scottish Government are hoping to buy the port from Peel Ports and discussions between Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, who own ferries, ports and harbours and port owners Peel Ports are now at an advanced stage.

Change of ownership would allow the necessary major work to be done to allow the ferries to return to North Ayrshire.

Arran councillor Charles Currie asked council leader Marie Burns to update him on the progress to bring Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership at full council on Wednesday.

He said: “As co-chair of the Ardrossan task force, can the Council Leader update us on progress to bring Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership?”

Burns said: “A letter to the Ardrossan Task Force Members was received from the Cabinet Secretary Transport on September 1.

“This provided an update on the port purchase position and negotiations following the last meeting of the Task Force in April 2025.

“This was shared by the Chief Executive with Elected Members on September 2.

“Any information we have we have that we have to share we will share as soon as we have it.”

Currie then said: “Does the leader of the council have confidence that CMal will bring negotiations with Peel Ports to a satisfactory conclusion within an acceptable time frame or should representations be made to the Scottish Government to hand over the negotiations to a body more experienced in these types of negotiations?”

Burns responded: ”No, I think the letter was good news.

“We are at a point where the discussions are around terms and I think that is a positive position to be in.

“I am as desperate as you are Councillor Currie for these negotiations to come to a satisfactory conclusion but I think we have come a long way now and it would be entirely inappropriate now to change the negotiating team..”

Currie said: “I thank the leader for her answer.”