A conservation charity has published plans for the future use of the building known as the Ayr Station Hotel.

SAVE Britain's Heritage, which helped rescue Dumfries House from oblivion, have set out a series of proposals inspired by 'tried and tested' schemes for large historic buildings which have worked elsewhere in Scotland, including enterprise hubs, artists’ studios, and exhibition spaces.

They say that the building should not be demolished, as a whole or in part, and that the range of new uses proposed can extend the life of the historical landmark.

A feasibility study commissioned by Transport Scotland, but also on behalf of South Ayrshire Council, Network Rail and ScotRail, was published in February 2021, and it was felt by some that the study was leaning towards demolition of the building, suggesting that retaining it would prove too expensive.

The new proposals have been published in a report called Ayr Station Hotel: Proposals for alternative use.

Their plans include potentially converting part of the hotel into a destination pub, with space for events including conferences, receptions, and weddings, with hotel and hostel rooms on the upper floors.

They say that their plans have been drawn up by 'leading' Scottish architects and costed by quantity surveyors.

And they say that now they are looking for investors to take their plans forward.

They suggest the building is an important historic building and as such there could be National Lottery funding worth up to £5 million available to invest in it and that further finance could be raised from other grant giving bodies, fund-raising and some commercial investment.

They include five options for reusing the Ayr Station Hotel and station premises: 

  • Enterprise Hub/Arts & Crafts
  • Hotel
  • Hotel/Hostel
  • Mixed use
  • Maximum mixed use including station offices and passenger facilities

SAVE’s plans have been drawn up by architects Smith Scott Mullan Associates, with costs provided by Quantity Surveyors Hardies of Edinburgh.

They are based on the £10 million estimated cost for structural repairs for the whole building supplied to South Ayrshire Council, added to the expected fit-out costs for the various uses proposed. These fit-out costs range from £8.47 million for Enterprise Hub and Artists’ studio use, to £8.8m for a hotel and hostel conversion.

Depending on the requirements of Network Rail/Transport Scotland, renovation of the station itself is currently estimated to cost £10 million, considerably lower than the figure of £25 million for a wholly new station cited two years ago.

Marcus Binney, executive president of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said: “We have been encouraged to find how many comparable historic buildings in Scotland have been rescued, repaired and given the sustainable use which provides income to maintain them.

"Ayr Station Hotel, though neglected, is an extremely robust, well-built, and durable structure as one would expect from the noted Scottish engineer who built it. SAVE will now actively seek partners to invest in and operate the proposed uses.”

James Knox, co-author of SAVE’s new report, said: “This breakthrough report offers a realistic road map to the restoration and re-purposing of the Station Hotel complex.

"Politicians and the rail authorities must grasp this opportunity to break the current deadlock and with the help of SAVE transform the station complex into a thriving hub.

"SAVE has a proven track record in Ayrshire with its key role in the saving of Dumfries House and the remarkable community regeneration arising from this. Now the time has come to back their plans for the historic county town of Ayr.”