The visit comes as Irvine is set to benefit from £20 million of levelling up funding from Westminster over the next 10 years. Irvine Neighbourhood Board was established in 2024 and is responsible for laying out plans for how the money will be used to rejuvenate the town centre. Easton Group director, Steven Easton, sits on the board as a representative of the business community.

Steven Easton said: “We are pleased that the minister chose Irvine to visit and are grateful of the opportunity to show what we can do with this money. We have a number of viable projects under consideration that will transform Irvine town centre for the benefit of its residents, the local community and the many businesses that operate in the area.”