Full Restoration Projects

Westgate Co-op

The former Westgate Co-op is a category B listed building constructed in 1907. It is large two-and-a-half storey red sandstone building located at the western edge of the town centre and has a prominent tower, which is a well-known landmark in the Irvine Valley.

The building was vacated by the Co-op in the 1980's, following the construction of their new store on the north-eastern edge of Galston. From then onwards, its condition began to rapidly deteriorate. Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust identified the building as a possible project in the late 1980's but lacked the funding to proceed with the restoration until the NTHI was created.

Even then, the project could not proceed, as the two owners of the building refused to sell to the Trust. Following the failure of negotiations, East Ayrshire Council was obliged to step in with a compulsory purchase order under the listed building legislation with a back-to-back agreement with the Trust.

Work finally commenced in the winter of 2002 to restore the building and convert it into 19 flats, comprising 13 one-bed flats and 6 two-bed flats. The works were completed one year later and the building sold on to Shire Housing Association for rental to people with an identified housing need.

 

 

Browns Institute

The category B listed building was in the ownership of East Ayrshire Council and had been vacant and derelict for some years when it was sold to St Vincent Crescent Preservation Trust in 1998 for £1 for restoration. It is a two-storey red sandstone building at the corner of Main Street and Craigview Road.

The restoration of Browns Institute and its conversion into four flats was the first project to be undertaken and completed under the NTHI. The building was acquired on completion by Shire Housing Association, for rental to tenants with an identified housing need.

 

 

73-77 Main Street

This category B listed building had lain empty for a number of years when it was purchased by St Vincent Crescent Preservation Trust for restoration and conversion into two maisonettes and one flat. The restoration works included the reinstatement of the ground floor frontage and the central wallhead chimney. The building was acquired on completion by Shire Housing Association, for rental to tenants with an identified housing need.

 

 

24, 26-28 High Street

Whilst the category C(S) listed building at 26-28 High Street was in a vacant and derelict condition, the property at 24 High Street had been nothing more than for external walls for more than 50 years. This pair of properties was acquired by St Vincent Crescent Preservation Trust, with 24 High Street restored and converted into 2 houses and 26-28 High Street into two flats. The properties were acquired by Shire Housing Association upon completion for rental to persons with an identified housing need.

 

 

53 Main Street

This property was the original Co-op building in Newmilns, dating from 1866. The original proposal under the NTHI was full restoration but subsequent fire damage caused the scheme to be amended to new build behind a retained façade. The local solicitors, Mair Matheson Limited, purchased the shell and are in the process of developing an office building behind the retained and restored façade to accommodate their business. It is expected that the project will be complete by the summer of 2004.

 

 

New Build Projects

Covenanters Car Park

Murdoch Nisbet Court, the car park of the former Covenanters Hotel, (which was itself converted into housing under an earlier initiative) was developed with housing by Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association as part of the NTHI. A total of two family houses and ten amenity flats for rental have been constructed on this site, replacing a vacant unsightly car park with an attractive courtyard development. The scheme received a Saltire award in the autumn of 2003, acknowledging the attractiveness of the design within the Outstanding Conservation Area.

Murdoch Nisbet Court Saltire Award

 

 

Rex Cinema Site

The former Rex Cinema, which had been vacant for many years, was demolished in 2002 under the NTHI. The site of the cinema is being developed by Shire Housing Association, to include an infill development on Main Street comprising one maisonette and one flat and a terrace of four houses to the rear, all designed in a style to blend with the character of the Conservation Area.

 

Public Realm Works

A scheme to renovate the gardens at 82 Main Street was completed in 2002, using trainees from East Ayrshire Council's Skills Training Unit. The works included the erection of a new feature wall, the refurbishment of the existing walls and paths, the erection of a seat and the installation of a plaque.

 

Reinstatement of Architectural Details

Grant-aided works under the NTHI, which include elements of assistance under the Town Scheme, have been completed at the following addresses:-
" 6 Castle Street (reinstatement of timber sash and case windows)
" 101-103 Main Street (restoration and conversion into two flats)
" 62 Main Street (DPC and timber works and window renewal/reinstatement)
" 43-45 Main Street (reinstatement of entrance door and renewal of shop front)
" 37 Main Street (chimney works & reinstatement of timber sash & case windows & door)
" 17 High Street (reinstatement of timber sash and case windows)
" 85 Main Street (reinstatement of shop front)

A scheme is underway for the three properties at 26-30 Main Street, to include reinstatement of traditional shopfronts, timber sash and case windows and entrance door and gable chimney and communal repairs.

In addition, repair schemes under the Town Scheme only have been carried out at Loudoun Church and 30 High Street and a reinstatement scheme at 22 High Street (timber sash and case windows) has been carried out without Town Scheme assistance.

 

 

Key dates for the NTHI

12 May 2000 Authorisation to commence the NTHI scheme was received from HLF
15 June 2000 Official Opening of the NTHI at the Morton Hall in Newmilns.
28 September 2001 Scottish Association of Building Preservation Trusts meet in Newmilns
12 October 2001 Completion of Brown's Institute
7 December 2001 PAN Scotland THI Meeting held in Newmilns
14 December 2001 Westgate Co-op project started
3 January 2002 Covenanters Car Park project started
10 January 2002 73-77 Main Street and 24,26-28 High Street project started
14 August 2002 Hugh Henry, MSP, Deputy Minister for Social Justice visited Newmilns THI
14 February 2003 Open Day held
28 February 2003 Murdoch Nisbet Court (Covenanters Car Park) completed
12 March 2003 Westgate House completed
17 March 2003 24, 26-28 High Street completed
28 March 2003 73-77 Main Street completed
15 October 2003 Rex Cinema site started
31 October 2003 Deadline for Grant Offers
15 November 2003 53 Main Street started
1 February 2004 26-30 Main Street started
31 March 2005 Completion date for NTHI

 

 

Current Links to Project Partners

Email - Shire Housing Association Limited
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire
Communities Scotland
Historic Scotland
Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association

 

 

 

NTHI Project Officer

NTHI Project Officer Fiona Murphy	Contact Details Project Officer Tel Fax E-Mail Address	Fiona Murphy 01560 321841 01560 329058 fiona.murphy@east-ayrshire.gov.uk The Town House 48-50 Main Street Newmilns KA16 9DE
Alternatively	Contact Tel Fax E-Mail Address	Colin McKee Planning, Development & Building Standards Division 01563 576759 01563 576774 colin.mckee@east-ayrshire.gov.uk 6 Croft Street Kilmarnock KA1 1JB

 

Acknowledgements

The NTHI would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support of its funding partners, the Building Preservation Trusts, the Housing Associations and Mair Matheson Limited, without whom the regeneration of the Newmilns THI would be impossible.

Equally important is the support of the people of Newmilns and the Irvine Valley, who can now see real changes in Newmilns as a result of the work of the NTHI.

 

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