Plans have been revealed for a new housing development on the site of a former hotel in Auchinleck.

The Railway Hotel served its last customers in September 2020, and the hotel, bar and restaurant, which had been hugely popular with locals, lay empty until it was eventually demolished in March last year.

A 'prior notification for demolition' notice for the building, lodged with East Ayrshire Council (EAC) shortly before demolition work began, indicated that the land was being considered for a new housing development.

And a formal application to build 17 new houses on the site has now been lodged with local authority officials.

Demolition of the Railway Hotel in Auchinleck.

WATCH: Demolition has started on Auchinleck's Railway Hotel. Read more: http://bit.ly/3kOGDxw

Posted by Cumnock Chronicle on Tuesday 7 March 2023

The application has been lodged by LMA Architects on behalf of Cumnock-based Campbell Homes Ltd.

However, those plans have now been moved on, with an official application being lodged with East Ayrshire Council for a housing development to be built on the site, lodged by LMA Architects on behalf of owner John Campbell.

The development would stretch from the Main Street boundary to School Road and, as well as the former hotel site, would occupy land which was formerly home to Auchinleck Primary before the school moved to its current home in nearby Dalshalloch Road..

Cumnock Chronicle: The proposed housing plan.The proposed housing plan. (Image: East Ayrshire Council)

The proposals consist of seven three-bedroom bungalows, one of them with an integral garage, as well as two semi-detached bungalows, each with two bedrooms, and eight three-bedroom, two-storey, semi-detached homes.

According to the plans, an access road to the housing development would be created on Main Street, close to the entrance road for The Railway Hotel.

A supporting statement lodged with the planning application says: The four house types will all use a similar palette of materials. 

"The proposed road pattern has been designed to tie in with the surroundings. It is proposed that Newton Avenue be extended, and a new perpendicular residential street be created.

"Footpaths are provided, and new pedestrian links are proposed to connect the new development with existing footpaths."

The supporting statement also says that 'green corridors' along the School Road side will be created by maintaining existing greenery and to avoid ovelooking between properties.

EAC has set a 'determination deadline' for the application of Sunday, June 2.

Cumnock Chronicle: Demolition of the former hotel building was carried out in the spring of 2023.Demolition of the former hotel building was carried out in the spring of 2023. (Image: Charlie Gilmour)

You can view the full planning list by going to the East Ayrshire Council planning portal, searching for application 24/0148/PP.

The closure of the Railway Hotel was confirmed just a few weeks after the bar had reopened following the first Covid lockdown.

Despite its age - thought to be around 200 years old - the Railway Hotel building did not enjoy listed status.

Campbell Homes is awaiting a decision by EAC officials on an application for 29 new homes off Catrine Road in Sorn, while work is also continuing on the firm's development of 156 properties off Rigg Road in Cumnock.