Plans for 55 new homes have been unveiled at The Hannah Research Park, Ayr. As part of a pre-planning consultation exercise the proposals for the redevelopment on the Hannah site were available for the public to see today 6 December.
The 55 units will be made up of apartments in the Institute’s converted main building as well as proposals for Kirkhill, the development of Mount Hamilton House as a single dwelling, and the new build of a crescent of homes adjoining St Quivox to a sympathetic design. There is also a proposal for limited Class 4 space to be retained.
The redevelopment takes place to a significant extent on land which currently accommodates redundant and unsightly byres and farm buildings and which would be demolished to make way for the new housing.
The redevelopment proposals, which will be submitted as an outline planning application early next year, have become necessary as the Institute faces a future without core funding from the Scottish Executive but intends, under the terms of the bequest from John Hannah in the 1920s, to continue to fund research in Scotland’s agricultural sector.
With all science at the Institute now transferred to Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian Universities and the Rowett, the Hannah’s Governing Council has decided to explore sympathetic redevelopment of a small part of the site in order to generate funds to enable future research to be undertaken.
Keith McKellar, Chief Executive, The Hannah Research Institute, says:
“We have looked at a number of options for the site, one of which is clearly, with the withdrawal of central funding, to make our assets work harder for us. And one asset that the Institute has in abundance is land.
“This week we are presenting our proposals to our tenants on the Hannah site, to neighbours and to the wider public to give them early notice of our plans which we hope they will find in keeping both with the objectives of the Institute, and with its surroundings, and on which we would of course welcome comment.”
The Hannah’s new website also goes live from 6 December with more information about the Institute, its history and its future plans – visit www.hannahresearch.org.uk
Further information from:
Keith McKellar
Chief Executive
Hannah Research Institute
Tel: 01292 477006
Issued by:
Dick Playfair
Playfair Walker
Tel: 0131 445 5570
Note
The Hannah Research Institute was established in 1928 as one of a collection of Government funded but independent research institutes to promote the scientific development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The Institute’s initial remit was to undertake research on dairying, addressing specific problems associated with that industry.
