Simpsinns, Si Bar, Soon to start on Site

We are soon to commence work on site with the demolition of the former Golf Hotel in Irvine which will be replaced with a new Restaurant Bar facility. This new build will be over two floors with each floor providing for a modern/traditional themed Restaurant/Bar experience. Ample parking and landscaped gardens shall compliment the urban setting. As with the development at the Waterside we shall continue to engage the strong design team whom have already demonstrated their passion and commitment, but with the knowledge that higher expectations for this project are what is expected.

Personally I say bring on the challenge we are ready for it. Project to be completed 2012.

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Simpsinns, Waterside, Seamill. Phase One Open for Business

We have just recently completed the first phase of this wonderful facility on the seafront just South of Seamill. This first phase provides for a new spacious Restaurant Bar, complimented with an external covered terrace area and landscaped gardens with views to Arran and the Ailsa Craig over the open sea.

Phase Two will provide for a Banqueting Suite supported with a range of splendid Hotel rooms. The whole project vision has been brought together with a passionate team of Construction Professionals whom fully engaged with the Simpsinns Owners and Management Team to ensure what was built was exceptional and raised the bar providing a modern quirky venue in this part of North Ayrshire.

Phase Two is at planning and design stage with work commencing on site next year, completion of Phase Two will be 2013.

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Internal shots taken with a Sony Cybershot on iSweep Panorama

Thunderbirds are Go, as well as alive and well in West Kilbride

We Nicknamed it the “Thunderbird House” from Tracey Island and rightly so. This is without a doubt the most challenging project RDK has ever undertaken. From the very large amount of rock extraction for site preparation, to the construction of the very challenging design with a new building system, never before used by RDK. This in itself was a real vote of confidence from the Architect Brian Stewart of Stewart Associates in Largs and indeed the Home Owner, but as you would expect there were many heart stopping challenging moments during the construction process which we had to deal with head on. This was all made so much simpler with the open communication between ourselves, the Client and his Architect, problems were replaced with positive solutions.

This house design is unique to both Client and Architect, and it has been a great pleasure in being able to build such a prestigious Home in the heart of North Ayrshire.

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RDK Garden Centre and Restaurant, Fairlie

RDK have had detailed planning consent approved for a new Garden Centre and Restaurant located North of Fairlie Bowling Club, in Fairlie. This proposal will provide for a modern facility sympathetically designed to fit into the edge of the village and as well as providing for some 40 jobs or so, it will be an attractive facility for North Ayrshire Residents and Tourists alike. RDK will now proceed with the warrant application and are in discussion with a number of companies with regards to operating this new facility. The project should be complete and operational during 2012.

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RDK Construction Picture Library for Hyndman Road

Here is a selection of some external photos of the completed house at Hyndman Road, Seamill completed by RDK last year. Internally the clients were very hands on with regards to the final layouts and design and the home was completed with American White Oak finishes including feature doors and a glazed helical oak tread stair with frameless glass balustrades. Externally the home is finished with traditional wet cast, natural Locherbriggs red sandstone and high performance powder coated alu-clad timber windows. In addition to the feature lighting and tunnel fire, heating is provided by a wet underfloor system powered by high efficiency gas boilers supported by solar roof panels.

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A Personal Tribute for our Dad

It has been a year now since our Dad passed away. Big Billy as he was known to most of his friends and family was one of life’s characters, and who are now unfortunately few and far between. Dad was not officially involved in our business but he very much felt part of it and was very proud of what both Robert and I had achieved so far.

He always had loads of comments to make about what was not being done to his liking or at his pace or precision, and to be honest although Robert and I often humoured his comments we did quietly listen and responded accordingly.

The lack of updates on our website since my Dad passed away has really been a lack of input on my behalf. I now recognise that its time to get the gloves off and start to fight our way through this recession in preparation of a return to business opportunities and growth. This website may be the very channel that will secure new projects and business opportunities, so it is important that we get it up to date and informative. Dad advised and taught us many things in life but the one thing that will remain with us forever, is the respect we had for his work ethic and willingness to help others, Dad was no angel but I can rest assure you he will have already established a fan club in the Almighty Heavens High Above. Rest in peace Big Man. Love Billy, Robert and all the Family.

William John Kirkwood
19th Dec. 1936 - 30th Oct 2010

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Hunter Street, Prestwick

RobertRyan Homes have just released to the market a selection of three terraced Mews Cottages. The properties are located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac known as Hunter Street just of the Main Street in Prestwick.

The properties offer spacious living accommodation with private parking and rear garden space. The internal and external finishes are as normal finished to a very high standard along with NHBC Warranty.

Managing Director Billy Kirkwood comments: “As from the artists impression the simple detail and traditional materials combine to give a clean crisp appearance.”

The properties are available for sale at prices from £210,000 and are being marketed by Donald Ross Estate Agents from their Ayr Office.

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Townhouse Launch in Largs

RobertRyan Homes have released the final phase of their Halkshill Development
in Largs. This final phase offers to the market six wonderful three storey semi-detached townhouses. The Halkshill site itself offers a range of contemporary
and traditional lifestyle homes.

Managing Director Billy Kirkwood comments: “Design is everything and if this can be successfully blended with quality materials and workmanship then the end
result will always be superb.”

Halkshill has a range of traditional three bedroom mansion style apartments, two bedroom garden apartments and four bedroom townhouses. The development is set within five acres of mature gardens with the go-go water winding through the setting. The development which is now 95% complete has a total of sixteen homes on offer, with the first purchasers now moving in.

Billy comments: “Market conditions for selling new properties has been a real challenge for some time now, all I know is that if someone is in the market for the price range we have on offer then I am confident our site will be a serious consideration. Sales have been slow but we now have three sales completed and three under reservation and with the townhouses now being formally released we hope to complete sales on the remaining properties very soon”

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Innovative Eco Ideas

Pupils from Auchenharvie Academy in Stevenston recently presented their innovative ideas to a panel of experts including RobertRyan Homes Director Billy Kirkwood, as part of the ground breaking project “Tomorrows Homes Today”

Auchenharvie’s Eco Group researched, designed and presented their ideas on energy conservation within the home to the panel. This presentation was supported by actual models from their ideas that they built.

Billy comments “ These young people have worked hard on this project since I visited them last October, and often in their own time. They have shown commitment and enthusiasm throughout and it has been a pleasure working with them”

From an educational standpoint, organisers Irvine Bay Regeneration Company say the project has been highly effective in enhancing skills for life and work as outlined in the Enterprise in Education agenda and delivered the educational targets in the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence. Irvine Bay’s i-live theme was also used as a context for learning across the curriculum, proving an understanding of, and input to, their local area through studying subjects such as art, technical subjects and social studies.

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Billy Kirkwood explains to the pupils the concept behind the design and setting of the Halkshill Project in Largs.

After their visit to Halkshill House which was the former home of the famous ice cream family the Nardinis, Billy arranged a trip for all the pupils to Nardinis Cafe on Largs Seafront. Owner John Fox kindly provided for ice cream for all to enjoy, including the teachers and Billy.

Tomorrows Homes Today

Arty Pupils from Irvine Royal Academy are helping to design homes for the future. In a joint initiative between RobertRyan Homes and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company they were asked to come up with i-live. Pupil groups were required to carry out research in all curriculum areas, including expressive arts, technology, health and well-being, social studies, science and maths.

A group of pupils recently visited the RobertRyan Homes show home complex at their Halkshill development in Largs. This gave them the opportunity to see a range of housing with particular attention being paid to the layouts, design and ranges of external materials, finishes and colours.

Johnny Little, Curriculum for Excellence Coordinator at Irvine Royal Academy said:
“the feedback from the visit yesterday from staff and pupils alike was absolutely fantastic. All were "blown away" by the houses and the tour/information provided by Billy. Everyone loved the experience.”

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Billy Kirkwood explains to the pupils the concept behind the design and setting of the Halkshill Project in Largs.

After their visit to Halkshill which was the former home of the famous ice cream family the Nardinis, Billy arranged a trip for all the pupils to Nardinis Cafe on Largs Seafront. Owner John Fox kindly provided the ice cream for all. This picture is within Nardinis Cafe with John explaining the ice cream manufacturing process while the pupils enjoy the end results.

Hair Raising Experience.

Past Scottish Building President Billy Kirkwood recently caught up with Jedward on a trip to Hanover in Germany. Billy comments "Robert and I were visiting a manufacturing facility and low and behold there they were John and Edward, obviously they were not as pleased to see me as I was of them hence perhaps the long faces”

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Zero Carbon Target has the X Factor.

Saltcoats based brothers Billy and Robert Kirkwood are pushing on with research and development of their Zero Carbon modular house building system. This is hot on the heels of their off-site modular system also under development, Billy comments “our ongoing research of our low/mid market housing will clearly lay the foundations for our real target, and that is zero carbon. We have identified a suitable site on land that we own, is South facing and unconstrained. We intend to refine the design prior to submitting a detailed application, just the usual planning hurdle to navigate.”

The brothers have made a clear commitment to delivering this objective for all values of property, especially the mid to top end who are in most cases the worst offenders of excessive energy consumption.

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Kirkwood brothers confirm Passive is their Passion

RobertRyan Timber Engineering owners Billy and Robert Kirkwood move a step closer to refining their first modular off-site constructed passive home system. This will clear the path and lead the way for new home building in the Scotland, and it will not just embrace the proposed new building standards on energy but go beyond them.

Billy comments, "Quality, Design and Energy efficiency are all addressed at the outset and we are now refining our off-site fabrication system to allow us to deliver a quality product built within a controlled environment."

RobertRyan are about to submit their formal application for their new factory at Sharphill, which will be purpose built to deliver new homes designed with the future in mind.

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NEW BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALTCOATS.

Ayrshire based RobertRyan and RDK Construction have recently appointed Planning Consultants McInally Associates to progress the Public Consultation requirements for their Sharphill Estate Development in North Ayrshire. Due to the recent changes in the planning system the proposals constitutes a Major Development, and there for requires following a pre consultation format.

The project is for a mixed use development which will provide for some 30,000 ft2 of first class commercial office accommodation, along with a new dedicated joinery and off-site low carbon house production facility for RobertRyan. A new roundabout and upgrading of the existing roadway and infrastructure will also provide for access to twenty six new low carbon family homes.

Managing Director Billy Kirkwood comments "the vision has been 10 years in the making, the future of the house building industry will require to fully embrace not just low carbon technology, but to also build more off-site, in a controlled environment which automatically reduces waste and improves the efficiency of the build as well as the quality of the finished product."

The new facility will allow RobertRyan to fully develop their panel and modular house building system towards delivering zero carbon homes. This will also allow the company to expand and create new employment opportunities within the new facility with a real focus on training and education.

Billy further comments "talking low carbon and zero carbon can be quite a challenge, however what people do clearly understand is the financial cost of energy such as gas and electricity, we will deliver new homes that require minimal energy consumption but will still be comfortable and appealing to live in. Whilst researching and delivering the new homes market technology we will also look at how we can retro fit the existing housing stock in Scotland of some 2.3 million homes, of which we believe some 25% of the people whom live in them also live in fuel poverty."

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, said:

"While we note that these proposals are at an early stage, they are interesting and we look forward to seeing them develop as they go through the public consultation and planning process. It is encouraging to see a local firm seeking to invest in the area as Irvine Bay continues to work hard to improve the environment for jobs and prosperity."

Further information will be published in the local press confirming when and where you can view the proposals.
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