Contentious Ayr office scheme rejected
A contentious development of flats and an office block in Ayr has been rejected by local councillors.
The plans submitted by R & R Investments for 30 flats and a 4-storey office block on a site known as Plot 9, The Citadel Esplanade, Ayr were previously backed by South Ayrshire Council officials. However, the plans were thrown out by councillors at the recent planning meeting.
The proposed apartments and office block (pictured) have been proposed for a site of historical importance. The sea front location was once home to a Citadel Fort.
Having been invited to comment on the proposals, Historic Scotland indicated that they were “not minded to object” to the development.
The site, which has been put up for sale by South Ayrshire Council, has seen other unsuccessful development proposals. Proposals for a 65,000 sq ft, 2-storey leisure facility including an arcade and a cinema were not considered to be viable. R & R Investments were subsequently chosen as preferred developer.
The planned 4-storey office block offers approximately 38,300 sq ft of open-plan floor space. Each floor of the office block can be subdivided to create 3Â separate office suites per floor. A central services “core” would provide each office floor with toilets and service facilities.
Local residents association Fort Residents Association objected to the proposals. They were joined by Ayr parliamentary candidate John Scott who commented upon the unanimous decision to reject the plans: “This is a very welcome decision by the regulatory panel which reflects the strong view of local people that the building of more flats and office space would be wholly the wrong type of development in this area.”
It is not known if the developers or their agents Graham & Sibbald will appeal against the decision.
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