Demolition and construction on Ayre road refused

An application to demolish the existing Station house on Ayre road and build 24 apartments and car parking on the site has been refused by the members of OIC’s planning committee.

Committee members refused the plan citing the height of the new building being too tall and a departure from the style of the surrounding buildings as their reasons.

The construction of the apartments would mean the demolition of the Victorian town house currently on the site. The new building would also be 3 metres higher than the existing one.

An objector from Orkney Heritage society stated: “This scheme is of a type that would fundamentally change the character of Kirkwall.”

The applicant and agent for the application stated that the build would encourage others to develop on what was a run—down area and that the structure had to be taller to economically justify the project.