Friends of Seafield House has now submitted its comment in support of Edesign Architecture & Planning’s applications on behalf of Econstruct Estates Seafield Ltd & Westpoint Homes Ltd for full planning permission and listed building consent, as follows:
“We are writing on behalf of Friends of Seafield House to give our support to the application above. Our support is dependent on two conditions being incorporated into any consent that might be granted on associated application [insert Planning Application 19/00255/APPM or LBC Application 19/00269/LBC as appropriate], as set out below.
The first condition is that Seafield House must be structurally repaired and rendered properly and permanently wind and weathertight prior to completion of the first phase of the development.
For the sake of clarity, our understanding of this is that the following works will be carried out:
- new conservation standard roof – reslated, releaded and weather tight
- new conservation standard windows and external doors fitted to all external openings
- completion of all internal and external structural and masonry repairs
- completion of repairs to all external ironwork
- overhaul and renewal of all rainwater goods and drains
- completion of all external decorations
- scaffolding removed
Again, for the sake of clarity, our understanding of completion of the first phase of the development is as follows:
completion of the first 16 new-build homes to a stage whereby they can be marketed.
The second condition is that all the Seafield house apartments are fitted out internally and totally ready for sale complete with local authority completion certificates prior to works on the last 5 new- build houses being commenced.
We welcome the fact that all materials that can be salvaged from Seafield House will be retained and, where possible, reused.
We support a relaxation of the blanket Tree Preservation Order, as we accept that the tree belt needs to be thinned, having self-seeded and had little maintenance over the years. We welcome the new planting within the landscape design, including pockets of amenity trees and that most of the species trees that are located at the front of Seafield House – many planted by doctors – will be retained.
We are pleased that the landscape design aims to reflect Sir William Arrol’s bridge building and Seafield House’s role as a hospital and that in front of the house there will be a Sir William Arrol Memorial Garden, designed in part with Heriot Watt University. We are also pleased that the area immediately in front of the house is to be designed as an historic ornamental garden – the area references Sir William Arrol’s original garden plan – and that a wild flower meadow with two sculptures has been designed for the rear of the house.
Friends of Seafield House confirms its support for application 19/00269/LBC for Listed Building Consent and associated Planning Application 19/00255/APPM with the two absolute conditions as set out above.”
We ask all those who support the restoration & conversion of Seafield House into apartments by way of an enabling development to write in support of the applications. Support comments can be lodged on South Ayrshire Council’s planning portal or made by letter to: David Love, Planning Officer, Planning Department, South Ayrshire Council, Burns House, Ayr KA7 1UT. The application reference numbers are 19/00255/APPM & 19/00269/LBC. There are 21 days in which to lodge comments from the validation date of 9 April 2019.
Thank you.
3-D visual for Seafield House as completed, © Edesign Architecture & Planning