Joined by representatives from NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the three local authorities, Ayrshire Hospice chief executive Tracy Flynn led the breaking-ground ceremony as work begins to transform the site ahead of reopening in Summer 2024.

Tracy said: “This is a historic milestone for the Ayrshire Hospice and, as a team, we are so excited to start building our new hospice which will be a centre of excellence for palliative and end of life care for the people of Ayrshire and Arran, right here in Racecourse Road.”

Site clearing and demolition carried out by McLaughlin & Harvey began in December last year and the ground is now ready for work to begin to deliver a facility Ayrshire can be proud of.

John McClintock, McLaughlin & Harvey operations director – healthcare, explained: “McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to have marked the first official milestone of our Ayrshire Hospice project. We bring with us a wealth of previous healthcare experience, and look forward to undertaking the substructure and structural works on this meaningful project in the coming weeks.”

The Ayrshire Hospice Board of Trustees and leadership team were joined by Provost Iain Campbell and chief executive Eileen Howat from South Ayrshire Council, in addition to Craig McArthur, director of Health and Social Care Partnership for East Ayrshire Council and Russell McCutcheon, executive director (place), from North Ayrshire Council. NHS Ayrshire & Arran chief executive Claire Burden was also in attendance to mark the significant milestone in the project.

Tom Steele, chair of the Ayrshire Hospice Board of Trustees, added: “The breaking ground ceremony is a seminal moment for our new hospice as work begins to lay down foundations. Although this sub-structure is something that people can’t see, it is arguably one of the most crucial points of the project from which our new infrastructure will be built.”

Andrew Baillie, Ayrshire Hospice Trustee and chair of the Capital Project Governance Committee, added: “Breaking Ground is the first major milestone in what will be an amazing new facility for the Hospice. Over the coming months work will progress onto foundations, the superstructure and then the roof before moving into the interior fit-out.

“It’s exciting to be not only creating a wonderful facility for patients, relatives and staff but helping to contribute to our sustainable future.”