Plans have been revealed to build a new £50,000 outdoor classroom at a popular South Ayrshire outdoor education centre. 

Proposals have been submitted for a log cabin at Dolphin House at Culzean that will be used as a classroom, as well as a social area for groups attending the centre to use. 

The new project, if approved, will allow for the "future re-configuration" of the existing bunkhouse on the site. 

The new building will be built between the existing bunkhouse and Dolphin House, which is a category B listed building built in 1840. 

Planning documents state: “The council has approved funding to carry out a review of the outdoor education facilities provided to schools by Thriving Communities from their base at Dolphin House in Culzean Castle and Country Park.

“An options appraisal report was produced by Professional Design Services (PDS) in March 2023, which reviewed three options for increasing the flexibility, quality and quantity of overnight accommodation within the bunkhouse to ensure that Dolphin House could continue to attract school groups and meet its enhanced income targets.

“The options appraisal identified that extending the existing bunkhouse to provide overnight accommodation was the only sensible option for the site.

“This means that the social spaces within the existing building will be converted to residential accommodation and the provision of social and flexible education spaces will require to be accommodated elsewhere on the site.

"Discussions with Thriving Communities identified an area of land between the existing bunkhouse and Dolphin House, as the only level land on the site leased by South Ayrshire Council and therefore suitable for the installation of a lightweight outdoor classroom and social space.”

The proposals will be assessed by South Ayrshire Council in the coming months, and further details can be found on the council's planning portal.