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Demolition refused for B-listed former fireclay works

December 17 2013

Demolition refused for B-listed former fireclay works
East Ayrshire Council has moved to refuse listed building consent for the demolition of a B-listed Southhook Potteries building on Kilmarnock’s Western Road after agreeing with an Austin-Smith:Lord penned report which demonstrated it capable of repair and re-use.

In an email to East Ayrshire Council Gordon Mackie, senior heritage management officer at Historic Scotland, had previously indicated he was minded to consent its demolition, writing: “We note the deteriorating condition of the building outlined in the feasibility report, in particular the loss of much of the external historic, decorative fabric and the cost of reinstating this detailing. We also note that the building has been marketed for a considerable period of time.

“If your Council is minded to grant consent, we would not in this instance object.”

Commenting on the building Greta Roberts told Urban Realm: “It is the former showroom/factory for Southhook Potteries. Shanks were famed nationally for making sanitary ware, tiles and glazed bricks. This building was finished in 1940 and is art deco. It has the look of an American Diner, but has been disused for well over 10 years.

“We have very few vestiges of Kilmarnock's industrial past left with Glenfield Kennedy and Johnnie Walker now gone. This is an iconic little building and could still be saved and given a new life.”

It is hoped that proposals may now come forward to convert the building and adjoining land for new housing following failure of an earlier feasibility study which envisaged transforming the building, listed on the Scottish Civic Trust’s buildings at risk register, into a call centre.

6 Comments

graeme kerr
#1 Posted by graeme kerr on 18 Dec 2013 at 12:41 PM
lets hope the applicant appeals this crazy decision. Even when Historic Scotland agree it can be demolished, the Council still want to keep it??The building should be demolished and a new building erected in its place, the new building could be designed in a similar fashion to retain the heritage.
egbert
#2 Posted by egbert on 18 Dec 2013 at 17:20 PM
#1 - "the new building could be designed in a similar fashion to retain the heritage"
Difficult to see how demolishing and replacing with some sort of loose semi-replica could be considered as retaining any real heritage. Either refurbish or replace completely anew - I doubt anyone would be happy with a half-hearted pastiche compromise.
Bill
#3 Posted by Bill on 18 Dec 2013 at 20:38 PM
Lets be honest the building is a pile of utter rubbish
There is no real reason to keep it
Ryan
#4 Posted by Ryan on 20 Dec 2013 at 23:26 PM
I really cannot sympathise with those seeking demolition. It clearly is in the style of Art Deco, and it needs to be modernised and kept! Why demolish another example of art deco, we already lost so many examples in the 80s and 90s because of people like you lot!
Bill
#5 Posted by Bill on 29 Dec 2013 at 17:09 PM
The problem is that nobody cares if its Art Deco or not with the exception of a few minority "niche" individuals who don't have the cash to "save" the building.
If it means that much to you, stick your hand in your own pocket and buy it then redevelop it.
Mark
#6 Posted by Mark on 19 Sep 2014 at 08:41 AM
Hello folks - is this building still there along with any of the original brickworks yard. I am a keen collector of Scottish bricks and history and would love to travel from the Borders to see it if it still survives and to see if I can rescue any of the original marked bricks albeit I have some already but there are many variations on a theme! www.scottishbrickhistory.co.uk

best regards Mark

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