HOLMSTON house will be transformed into a residential area with a new 66 bed care home constructed in the grounds.

The B listed building was originally constructed as the Ayr Welfare Home and Hospital for the chronically sick and in more recent years, used as an adult training centre.

The proposed plan for the development is to change the use and convert the 1.37-hectare site to form 30 residential houses, conversion of three outlying buildings to form three residential bungalows, and the develop a 66-bed care home including the formation of associated access, parking and landscaping.

David Cooley, managing director for the development of Holmston House, said: “We are very much into using local improvement we will use local contractors and as part of their requirements we will use local suppliers and subcontractors and take on apprenticeships that will create employment in the area.

“We have committed £2.2million to the site and we would very much like to commit the delivery of this scheme in November.”

Cllr Peter Convery, commented: “In principle, this would be a fairly useful addition to the nursing home for people who want to use it. The bottom line is, I think it’s not so much the nursing home but Holston House itself.”

The council agreed that the executive director of economy, neighbourhood and environment be given the power to approve the application subject to agreement of S75 legal agreement relating to the certain amount of affordable housing.