Palace is to remain closed for four years

Kilmarnock's Palace Theatre and Grand Hall will have been closed for four years by the time a £20 million redevelopment project has been completed.

- STEPHEN BARK

East Ayrshire Council announced on Wednesday, July 2, the main contractor for the refurbishment works which are due to be completed by “early 2028” - four years after the complex closed.

Proposals announced in 2023 would have seen the buildings closed for a total of 18 months and they closed in 2024.

However, planning permission wasn’t granted for almost another year and East Ayrshire Council have only just appointed McLaughlin & Harvey as the main contractor.

It has been hailed by the council as “the first major milestone in the project's timeline” at the time that the £20 million Cultural Kilmarnock project was due to be completed.

Mobilisation will commence onsite during July with the main contract commencing on August 4.

Images of the plans were released in August last year and were put to a public consultation.