McKinney Group has been appointed as the preferred bidder to regenerate the Stranraer waterfront.

The Northern Irish company will work with Dumfries and Galloway Council and the owner of the 17 acre East Pier, Stena Line, to draw up proposals which are likely to include retail, leisure and housing developments.

Billy McKinney, of the McKinney Group, said: “We are delighted to have entered into an agreement with the partners. From the outset we recognised the potential for this project to be transformational for Stranraer and the south west of Scotland.”