The current gap between 8 and 12 Main Street is to be converted before it is incorporated into an expansion of the current Keystore premises next door, with retail space at ground floor and storage, administration and staff areas on the first floor.
The empty site’s current condition is considered semi derelict, and the building on the site was previously used for storage and band hall practice.
According to the application, the existing first floor structure will be repaired and refurbished and a new ground floor slab installed into the former garage store area to preserve the building for the future.
As well as this, the front of the new shop will be made of reconstituted stone block to marry in with the adjacent shop’s red sandstone.
The development is being made to improve the area’s retail facilities. (Image: East Ayrshire Council) The applicant reached out to the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, East Ayrshire Council and Scottish Water regarding the application, but all parties responded saying they had no objections to the development.
However, a number of objections were submitted by members of the community, with one saying “it would bring more negatives to the village than positives.”
Other areas of local concerns included possibly decreasing the value of nearby property and wishing to retain the cobbled street where the new development would be placed.
Traffic concerns were also raised, with one person saying: “Increasing the size of the shop will increase traffic and parking in a narrow road that is already congested and lacks parking.
“There are already traffic issues when the current store receives deliveries as the road is narrow and has a regular bus service passing through it causing buses to occasionally mount pavements in order to pass the delivery truck.”
Despite these objections, the proposals were this week approved by East Ayrshire Council’s planning officials.