February 16 2022

A former drill hall at Binnie Lane, Gourock, dating from the First World War is to be converted to a home under new plans filed with Inverclyde Council.

Led by Marco Rebecchi of Rebecchi Architectural the work supercedes an earlier application, which included an extension wing housing a cinema and pool, in favour of a remodel of the dilapidated structure solely within its existing footprint.

Rebecchi commented: “This is an exciting proposition with the existing building in good condition and capable of being adapted for a new purpose.Our client’s fear is if the building is not adapted, at some point, it will be demolished with a new building built in its place seeing the loss of the heritage of this site."

Billed as an opportunity to save the building from demolition the work will see profiled metal sheeting replaced with a render board finished in acrylic white render with the roof replaced by concrete tiles.

This would house a three-bedroom home including a sauna and gym as well as a home office and games room on the upper level.

3 Comments

#1 Posted by KMCA on 16 Feb 2022 at 14:56 PM

I'm struggling to see the difference between this and "the loss of the heritage of this site."

#2 Posted by Mainwaring on 16 Feb 2022 at 16:52 PM

As much as it would be nice to retain this, in the real world no Structural engineer is going to let you retain that and modify it as it has been proposed. Get it saved as is, or demolish it and start again and bank the Vat free saving!

#3 Posted by Paul on 17 Feb 2022 at 18:49 PM

I assumed the headline was a plea from objectors.

They could at least have proposed external materials to match the existing if they were going to pursue this argument.

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