Seafield House Update: Work progressing after lockdown period

When we posted our last update in February little did we imagine that a worldwide pandemic would take hold, bringing massive challenges and changes to our lives. From March works were halted and businesses closed due to strict Coronavirus lockdown measures, including those at Seafield House. As lockdown restrictions eased work resumed on site and now much progress can be seen.

Work on Seafield House is underway and it is surrounded by scaffolding with a soft strip of the interior being carried out. Work on the new build homes on its grounds has also progressed, with the site marked out and foundations being laid.

• 

• 

• 

The sales centre is open and banners have been put up showing the vision of how the finished Seafield Gardens development will look.

• 

• 

Friends of Seafield House will be following the build and sharing photographs on the website as it develops. Check out the timeline on our Gallery page to see how it changes over time.

FoSH 2020 Annual General Meeting: Postponed

Given the current coronavirus lockdown and the prospect of extension, the FoSH 2020 AGM, is postponed. As set out in our Founding Deed, our AGM is to be held in May. This we have done over the past six years, but there is no prospect of being able to do so in the exceptional circumstances of this year.

The last FoSH Committee Meeting before lockdown was held on 20 February. At the meeting, the FoSH Committee agreed to hold this our seventh AGM on 18 May 2020. The meeting will instead be held at a date to be confirmed later in the year.

The FoSH Committee will give the required two-week’s notice of the new meeting date.

 

FoSH Secretary
2 May 2020

Seafield House Update : Work Commences on Site

Following South Ayrshire Council Regulatory Panel (Planning)’s unanimous approval of the Seafield House planning application for the restoration & conversion of Seafield House into apartments by Econstruct Estates Seafield and the construction, with its partner Westpoint Homes, of 27 new-build homes in the grounds, FoSH was pleased to hear from the developer on 17 February that work was to commence on site that day.

FoSH Committee Members have viewed the site and can already see progress in site preparation for the new build homes. We look forward to hearing when work commences on the first phase of the work to restore and convert into apartments Seafield House.

FoSH Welcomes Planning Approval with Conditions for the Restoration & Conversion of Seafield House into Apartments and Enabling Development of New Homes in the Grounds

Friends of Seafield House welcomes the approval with conditions by South Ayrshire Council Regulatory Panel (Planning) this morning – 14 November 2019 – of the planning application by Econstruct Estates Seafield Ltd & Westpoint Homes Ltd for the restoration, conversion & extension of Seafield House to form 10 residential units and building of 27 new homes in the grounds. Listed Building Consent (LBC) for the restoration and conversion of Seafield House was granted with conditions under delegated powers on 29 October 2019.

This link is to the decision notice and documents relating to the granting of Listed Building Consent.

This link is to the Panel Report and planning application documents.

FoSH Chair, Patrick Lorimer, spoke in support of the application. In giving approval, Panel Members spoke of approval being a “hard” decision, but that they saw the application as a “last chance” to save Seafield House, saying it is a building “we can’t afford to lose“.

FoSH welcomes the additional condition put to the meeting by officers and agreed by the Panel for a landscape aftercare and maintenance plan.

Robin Ghosh, Director of Econstruct Estates Seafield Ltd, confirmed to the Panel on behalf of the developers that fulfilment of planning condition 2 (*) means not only completion of the exterior of Seafield House but 60-65% completion of the internal fit-out.  FoSH welcomes this assurance in achieving completion of the 10 Seafield House apartments concurrent with completion of the new builds.

Next year – 2020 – marks the 130th anniversary of Sir William Arrol completing his home at Seafield and one of his major construction achievements, the Forth Bridge. FoSH looks forward to 2020 also marking significant positive change in Seafield House becoming once again a home.

(*) “That notwithstanding the plans hereby approved, no more than 16 of the 27 new build dwellings hereby approved shall be occupied for residential use before Seafield House is rendered wind and watertight by works, including the completion of the “Proposed Roof Plan Seafield House” Edesign Drawing No. 18-0284-PL-SH-15.”

Seafield House Planning Application Recommended for Approval + Conditions: Listed Building Consent granted under Delegated Powers

Friends of Seafield House welcome the recommendation by South Ayrshire Council Planning Officers to South Ayrshire Council Regulatory Panel – Planning for Approval with conditions of the Planning Application by Econstruct Estates Seafield Ltd & Westpoint Homes Ltd for the restoration, conversion & extension of Seafield House to form 10 residential units and building of 27 new homes in the grounds. The recommendation was published on 30 October 2019. Listed Building Consent (LBC) with conditions was granted under delegated powers on 29 October 2019.

This link is to the decision notice and documents relating to the application for Listed Building Consent.

This link is to the Planning Application Report and documents relating to the application.

The Planning Application Report will be considered by SAC Regulatory Panel – Planning on 14 November 2019. FoSH Chair, Patrick Lorimer, has requested to speak. FoSH’s responses in support of the applications and the conditions for that support can be found via this link.

FoSH welcomes support for the application and the positive neutral responses made by SAVE Britain’s Heritage and Bill Grant MP. FoSH notes that the Planning Application Report sets out under 2. Consultations “No response received.” from Fort Seafield & Wallacetown Community Council.

FoSH will publish shortly our considered response to the content of the planning application report. FoSH’s initial response is to welcome the statement in the report summary:

“The approval of the 27 dwellinghouses is only acceptable in planning terms on the basis that it can be demonstrated that it secures the restoration and re-use of Seafield House,
otherwise it would be contrary to planning policy due to the extensive removal of trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order, impact on the setting of a listed building, insufficient amenity space and affordable housing provision. It is considered that the proposal is capable of positive consideration against the terms of the Local Development Plan and associated guidance. It is recommended that the application be approved
subject to conditions.”

and in the development proposal:

“The proposed development can be considered as two distinct parts, namely the restoration and conversion of Seafield House and the erection of new build dwellinghouses within the grounds of Seafield House. However, these two elements are intrinsically linked.”

FoSH will also publish the decision of SAC Regulatory Panel – Planning following conclusion of its deliberations of SAC Planning Officers recommendation for Approval with conditions.

Celebrating 125 years of Tower Bridge and the work of its ‘men of steel’

Yesterday we celebrated with Tower Bridge the 125th anniversary of its opening on 30 June 1894.  On anniversaries like these we always remember the bridge designers and main contractors, but we should also remember the individual construction workers whose toil and skill helped build this iconic structure. Little is written about these men and boys but research carried out by FoSH committee member, Kirsty Menzies, for Tower Bridge helped to reveal stories of some of the steelworkers.

Tower Bridge, London

Today we take a look back at these ‘men of steel’ in a blog post based on this research and published on our Sir William Arrol website.  The stories of the workers demonstrate the high level of skill that Sir William Arrol & Company Limited required of them.  It also tells of the experienced men who were deployed to Tower Bridge to ensure the successful completion of its steel structure.

Read more about the Tower Bridge ‘men of steel’.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage Exhibition of Watercolours by Acclaimed Artist Gerard Stamp Features Seafield House

Seafield House, copyright Gerard Stamp, 2019

On 25 June, SAVE opened an exhibition of new paintings of endangered buildings by the highly regarded painter, Gerard Stamp and celebrate 30 years of SAVE reports on buildings at risk with the launch of the latest volume, “Don’t Leave Me This Way“.

 

Gerard Stamp‘s paintings for this exhibition powerfully capture the plight of all kinds of buildings which are at risk through neglect and disuse.

The paintings are for sale and Gerard is kindly donating half the proceeds of sale to support the work of SAVE in campaigning for these and other buildings.  The Seafield House work is on sale at £5,400. FoSH would be delighted if this work was to find a home in Scotland.

For further information on the artist’s work: https://gerardstamp.com/news/

FoSH Membership Year 2019-2020

The FoSH membership year commences in May. Our members are known as FoSH Friends.

FoSH appreciates the support of existing FoSH Friends in renewing their membership & welcomes new FoSH Friends. Please show your support of our campaign with SAVE Britain’s Heritage and others for the restoration of Seafield House * by renewing your membership or becoming a member, using the form below:

* We await the decision of South Ayrshire Council on the applications for planning permission & listed building consent to restore Seafield House by conversion into 10 apartments and build 27 houses in the grounds. If the applications are approved, FoSH will continue in a monitoring role until 2022 when the development is scheduled for completion.

Friends of Seafield House (FoSH) Membership Form 2019 – 2020

I wish to become a Member / renew my Membership * of Friends of Seafield House

 

Name ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

Address ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

……………………………………………………………………. Post Code …………………………………

Telephone……………………………………………………… (optional)

Email ……………………………………………………………..

Membership Number (if renewal) ……………………..

I am happy to be contacted by email                                              Yes/No *

*Please delete as appropriate

Type of Membership	Yearly Membership  ** £ Sterling	Your Membership Selection (please put  X in appropriate box)
Individual Full Membership	£ 10
Joint Membership (Open to Individuals Only, not Groups)	£ 15
Corporate Membership (Company/Organisation with up to 100 staff)	£ 50
Corporate Membership (Company/Organisation with over 100 staff)	£100
Additional Donation	FoSH welcomes additional donations	Amount £            ……………………………………..

 

Membership is by donation. Those wishing to pay by Standing Order should please contact the FoSH Secretary on info@friends-of-seafield-house.org.uk for FoSH Bank details.

 

I enclose a cheque / p.o. crossed and made payable to “Friends of Seafield House” for  £………….

Signed ………………………………………………………………………                              Date …………………………………………………………………

Please mail your membership form & cheque to: The Secretary, Friends of Seafield House c/o 4 Eglinton Terrace, Ayr KA7 1JJ, Scotland

Reminder: FoSH 6th Annual General Meeting : Thursday 30 May 2019, 5pm : Savoy Park Hotel, Ayr

Reminder:

Sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Friends of Seafield House (FoSH) will be held on Thursday 30 May 2019 at 5pm at the Savoy Park Hotel, 16 Racecourse Rd, Ayr KA7 2UT. 

All Members – FoSH Friends – are invited to attend

 

AGM AGENDA

1. Welcome and opening remarks from Patrick Lorimer, FoSH Chair
2. Ordinary business

2.1 To receive a Report from the Management Committee on the last year’s activities

2.2 To receive and approve an examined Report on the Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for the year to 31st March 2019 together with the Examiner’s report *

2.3 To receive and agree the Base Budget for the ensuing year

2.4 To appoint an independent Examiner to examine the accounts for the ensuing year

3.0 Elections

3.1 To conduct the election of the Management Committee (“one third of the Management Committee shall retire annually and shall be eligible for re-election” – FoSH Founding Deed)

4.0 Founding Deed

4.1 To consider any Amendment(s) to the Founding Deed (Amendments to the Founding Deed may be proposed at the AGM)

*As in 2018, there having been only a small number of transactions, the examining has been done by the Committee with all papers available for independent scrutiny at the AGM

Tea/coffee & shortbread will be served (£2 – donation appreciated)

Please contact Lianne Hackett, FoSH Secretary, info@friends-of-seafield-house.org.uk to advise attendance.

Seafield House : Application for Listed Building Consent : Historic Environment Scotland Consultation Response

FoSH welcomes the response from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to the application made for Listed Building Consent to restore and convert Seafield House into apartments. In its response, HES says:

“We very much welcome this proposal, which would secure the sustainable future of this
important landmark house in Ayr, the home of Sir William Arrol. The overall approach as noted in the Design and Access Statement is well considered, particularly in terms of the proposed reconfiguration/re-instatement works which respond to the historic interest and special character of the building. Should your council wish our further involvement in regard to detailed/technical aspects which are not in this application, i.e. stone repair works, window replacement, slate replacement, we would be happy to provide advice. Planning authorities are expected to treat our comments as a material consideration, and this advice should be taken into account in your decision making. Our view is that the proposals do not raise historic environment issues of national significance and therefore we do not object. However, our decision not to object should not be taken as our support for the proposals. This application should be determined in accordance with national and local policy on listed building/conservation area consent, together with related policy guidance.”

The LBC application was made together with an Application for Full Planning Permission. Friends of Seafield House has made its support clear, with caveats, and looks forward to the decision that we understand South Ayrshire Council will make public in July.