South Ayrshire Council is set to give the green light to demolish the Arran Mall without concrete plans for its redevelopment.
A feasibility study has stated that the site would be suitable for a ‘living well village featuring residential reenablement, care experienced accommodation, family centre and day centre’ along with a range of specialist housing.
The study also says that a plan to use the former Hourstons building for South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership is also a viable option.
The Cabinet will be asked to approve the plans to demolish the Arran Mall, other than the building that fronts onto Alloway Street and forms part of the Conservation area.
However, the report makes a point of stating: “It is important to note that the redevelopment options expressed in this report do not form recommendations to Cabinet at this stage.”
Officers have recommended the reallocation of £11.26m for the redevelopment, as well as efforts to secure further funding via government and sale of surplus council properties.
The report states: “Feasibility work has been undertaken into an option to redevelop the Hourstons building for accommodation for Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and option Arran Mall living well village, residential reenablement, care experienced accommodation, family centre and day centre.
“In addition, a mix for varying needs, amenity housing, wheelchair accessible and potential general needs affordable housing, associated landscaping, servicing and access arrangements.
“The outcome of the feasibility work has concluded that the site and buildings available are potentially suitable for these uses.”
The report states that original part of the Hourstons building should be large enough to accommodate the HSCP staff.
Officials say that, while the Hourstons extensions will be surplus, they do not know the exact requirements needed to remove them and retain the original building.
Demolition of a large swathe of the Arran Mall can take place without additional planning requirements, but only once the purchase is finalised.
Any demolition within the conservation area would require additional approvals, meaning that the part of the Arran Mall may not be demolished at the same time as the rest of the site.
While the HSCP have indicated that the proposals meet their current and future needs, the report later suggests that this is not quite so cut and dried, adding that they will ‘continue to work with South Ayrshire HSCP and NHS Ayrshire and Arran to confirm their operational requirements that could be accommodated within the former Hourstons Listed Building and the Arran Mall’.
Similarly, the potential for housing also needs to be confirmed.
The report adds: “Affordable housing could potentially be council owned or new build provision from an Registered Social Landlord partner.”
It has also been pointed out that moving HSCP staff to a new property could see other council properties left empty or underutilised.
The report states: “A view would then require to be undertaken as to whether to declare these building surplus and any disposal would be undertaken.”
Cabinet will be asked to go ahead with a tender for demolition of the mall site – other than the section in the conservation area.
The recommendation also seeks to bring forward £11.26m of unallocated future capital funding as a basis for the redevelopment proposals, with the potential for additional money through the sale of surplus property, from the Housing Revenue Account and other external and government funding.
The potential rise in costs due to inflation is also highlighted in the report.
Cabinet will also be asked to submit building warrants for the demolition of the Hourstons extensions.
If approved, detailed proposals and funding plans would be brought to Cabinet later this year.
The paper also raises the risks around not taking the plans forward.
It states: “These buildings/site lie vacant and without redevelopment they form a planning and financial blight.
“There may also be security and vandalism risks with empty buildings/property.
“The cost of protecting both those properties, e.g. hiring security guards and erecting sufficient fencing, would have to be borne by the council. There would in addition be insurance costs.”
Cabinet will consider the report on Tuesday, June 20.
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