A bid to demolish one of Kilmarnock's most historic buildings has been lodged.
The owner of the grade B listed Belford Mill claims that the former textile factory is a health and safety risk and commercially unviable.
Alex Watson, managing director of AM properties, said in an application to East Ayrshire Council that the building, which dates back to 1881, would cost £1.3 million to bring up to scratch.
The Lawson Street factory and surrounding buildings have been owned by the property company since 2009 and while "all other areas have been refurbished", Mr Watson admitted his firm "under estimated the extent of the repairs required to the 4 storey section".
A report lodged to council planners detailing a bid to bring the historic building down claims the firm have actively marketed the venue since 2014 but have had "no offers to lease / purchase the property."
The firm reportedly launched a bid to have the building used for affordable housing with major developers concluding that the site was "effectively undevelopable".
A supporting statement from Mr Watson concludes: "The building is commercially unviable to repair, due to the significant structural repairs required /associated substantial costs and lack of any potential end user.
"We trust that East Ayrshire Council Planning Department shall support this application to demolish."
Councillor Graham Boyd wants to see the building saved from the scrapheap.
He said: "This grade B listed building was built 1881 - 87 at the height of the Industrial Revolution as a textile mill. Kilmarnock had many such buildings, the vast majority have been lost.
"This building is architecturally striking, the lower floor double height to accommodate ten large looms, the walls made from yellow brick with fine features such as arched windows and Ballochmyle Sandstone ledges. Unusually, the four storey building follows the curve of Brewery Road.
"Cities such as Glasgow and Liverpool make great efforts to preserve and find new uses for such buildings. I oppose demolition, if the owner is unwilling to renovate and find a use it should be marketed at its current value."
Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Mr Boyd added: "I think that if owners of historic and/or listed buildings are not prepared to maintain them or renovate there should be legislation giving them two years to bring up to an acceptable standard or the building is marketed for sale at its current value."
The historic building once housed Fleming's Laces, founded in 1883 by John Fleming with around 200 workers and 15 looms on site by 1909.
The early days at the mill saw the business produce lace for curtains before shifting to the production of colourful hand-printed textiles for table covers, head squares, floor covers and handkerchiefs along with fishing nets for cages used on fish farms.
More recently it dealt in producing fibreglass fabrics for the aerospace industry.
Before closing in August 2013, the mill was renamed Scott and Fyfe Composites Ltd, although it had been part of the Scott and Fyfe group for 13 years.
East Ayrshire Council planners will rule on the application at a future date.
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