The main building at the former Hourstons department store in Ayr will not be big enough to house health and social care services, it has been revealed.

South Ayrshire Council’s cabinet will be asked next week to approve the retention of the larger of the two extensions built in the 1960s to accommodate the staff - as well as keeping the listed main building.

It is estimated that the redevelopment of the main building and extension will cost £20m.

Should the cabinet approve the report, it would aim to begin demolition of both the Hourstons extension and the Arran Mall in May 2024, at a cost of £2m, with development work beginning in April 2025.

In the summer South Ayrshire Council announced that it was going to work with South Ayrshire health and social care partnership (HSCP) after they expressed interest in utilising the building. 

The property was left facing an uncertain future after the local authority's Conservative group seized power in the May 2022 local government election - having campaigned on a pledge to dump the SNP's plans to build a new leisure centre at the site.

At first the council believed that the original listed part of the property would provide sufficient space for HSCP offices.

It was to be retained, with both of the extensions bulldozed.

Since then, the council has been in discussion with the HSCP to determine exactly what they require to move into the building.

It has now been revealed that they will need more space, as they are looking to provide clinical, GP and primary care services.

A report to cabinet states: “The space requirement is considerably in excess of that anticipated in the report to cabinet of June 2023, which concluded that the listed building part of the former Hourstons would be sufficient for the partnership’s needs.

“The reason for the increase in space requirement is largely due to increased clinical space being identified and opportunities for primary care/general practitioner facilities being accommodated within the facility.”

The cabinet will also hear that the acquisition of the former Arran Mall is yet to be finalised, which has led to a delay in the demolition work there.

The report continues: “South Ayrshire HSCP, NHS Ayrshire and Arran have undertaken significant work across their services to confirm their outline user requirements.”

It adds that the work already undertaken will allow the council to move onto the next design stage.

However, officers said that they are limited by a lack of information around the consequences of any demolition work.

It states: “None of the buildings are in good condition. With these buildings all being interconnected, demolition of any part of the building network requires detailed structural assessment as to how demolition would impact on the structural integrity of the remaining structure.”

Surveys would also be needed to determine the best design options for the site.

A condition survey was carried out in 2017, during the proposals for the new leisure centre.

However, the latest report says the condition of the buildings "has continued to deteriorate" and an updated survey will be required. Similar reasons are given for an updated structural survey.

A decision on the preferred option of demolishing one extension and retaining the main Hourstons building and the other extension would shorten the project time scales.

The cabinet will consider the latest update on Tuesday, November 28; a report on options and designs for the refurbished building is due to go before the cabinet in April.

Hourstons closed for the last time in January 2019 after 123 years on the High Street.