Following a voluntary pre-planning public consultation before Christmas, the Hannah Research Institute, Ayr has this week lodged an application for outline planning permission for the development of residential accommodation in the Institute’s main building and on adjoining ground.
The application covers in the region 60 residential units requiring conversion of the main Hannah building and refectory and extending northwards. A ‘courtyard’ development is proposed on ground previously occupied by redundant office, light industrial and agricultural buildings, with additional housing on the adjoining ground. Limited Class 4 office accommodation is also proposed close to the Institute’s main gate.
The pre-planning consultation sought comments and responses from neighbours and other local interest. The majority of comments received were highly supportive of the proposals, but the Hannah project team has also adjusted and modified its original proposal in the light of the very few concerns that were raised at this time.
Keith McKellar, Chief Executive, The Hannah Research Institute, says:
“We have listened closely to comments received through the pre-planning consultation process and have modified our original plans to take these into account including a more irregular layout for the housing and retention of open space.
“The Hannah has embarked on this course so that it can continue to fund agricultural research under the terms of John Hannah’s original bequest. With Scottish Executive funding withdrawn a year ago, and all the science formerly on the site now transferred to Scottish Universities, our plan is to release land and redundant buildings for housing once planning permission has been attained so that a trust fund can be set up as a source for enabling future research.”
Download letter to the residents of St. Quivox (Adobe Acrobat 16KB).
Further news about the development plans can be found on The Hannah website www.hannahresearch.org.uk
Further information from:
Keith McKellar
Chief Executive
Hannah Research Institute
Tel: 01292 477006
E: k.mckellar@hannah.ac.uk
Issued for The Hannah by:
Dick Playfair
Playfair Walker
Tel: 0131 445 5570
E: dick@playfairwalker.com
