Royal burgh and seaport (pop., 1991: 32,988), North Ayrshire council area, on the Atlantic coast of Scotland.
The last of Scotland's five new towns, it was designated in 1967 to house overflow population from Glasgow and provide a focus for the economic and industrial rehabilitation of the area. It had declined in the 18th and 19th centuries because of competition from other towns and the silting of the harbour. It became an industrial centre that produces chemicals, engineering, electrical goods, and clothing.