Plans for Hollybush House to get makeover into hotel and spa

The building was previously used for the residential facility Hollybush House, before it moved to a new location in Edinburgh in 2021.

Prior to being a care home, the property was a hotel, but it has remained empty for the last few years with developers now wanting ‘to bring it back to life’.

The estate is made up of a mansion house and ancillary buildings, including an accommodation annex, activity centre and 2 cottages.

The new developer has plans to revamp the estate’s mansion into houses, and change the accommodation annex, activity centre and cottages to a hotel with spa.

The developers have no plans to change the building internally or externally. (Image: East Ayrshire Council)The planning permission is for change of use only, and there will be no changes to the building internally or externally.

Once built, the hotel and two cottages are expected to become guest suites as well as the 14 bedrooms in the accommodation annex. 

There will be no restaurant or bar open to the public and the hotel will host residents exclusively as a wellness retreat.

To redesign the grade C listed building, they will only be doing less invasive actions such as painting and wallpapering.

The intention is that the house will become be a luxury property for short-term letting in future where a new application will be made.

To view the application, visit East Ayrshire Council's planning portal using reference 24/0136/PP.