New pictures show catastrophic damage at fire-ravaged Kilmarnock building as report states it was a 'major threat' to public

New pictures show the catastrophic damage dealt to a historic Ayrshire building that was a "major threat" to public safety.

Kilmarnock's Conservative Club was torched in December 2020 and was demolished shortly after.

A new report released this week from Wylie Shanks Architects details the devastating damage done to the B-listed building.

Aerial shots show the collapsed floor of the 134-year-old building and charred remains of the iconic building.

A retrospective demolition application was submitted to East Ayrshire Council following the building's swift destruction in January this year.

The building couldn't be saved (Wylie Shanks Architects / East Ayrshire Council)

Extensive damage at the blaze hit Sturrock Street building is detailed as follows:

• Roof structure collapsed in its entirety over main building and partially collapsed over rear extension.
• Rear annex 1 over stairs – floor had collapsed in this location.
• Rear annex 2 – Partial floor collapse.
• Rear section of the main building had shown signs of significant settlement based on the failure of lintel and rear façade was spreading outwards towards the wedding shop.
• Sections of floor in main building remained.

In summary, the report concluded: "The building condition was significantly poor and it would have taken a considerable amount of work to restore the building to a safe and usable condition.

The building was B-listed (Kilmarnock Standard)

"In its fire-damaged state, the building constituted a major threat to the safety of the public and the adjacent Category C-listed property."

The dossier submitted also detailed the historical significance of the building.

A view from where the roof was (Wylie Shanks Architects / East Ayrshire Council)

Built in 1887 the predominantly blonde ashlar sandstone had links with the eminent businessman John Finnie – his daughter laid the foundation stone – and was designed by the well-known Scottish Architect Robert Samson Ingram who was born in Kilmarnock.

Justification for the demolition of the building read on the application: "The building had been extensively damaged by a fire which had burnt through the roof structure and caused sections of floors throughout the building to collapse.

The building was demolished (Submitted/Kilmarnock Standard)

"There was also a large amount of settlement to the rear elevation. The client [East Ayrshire Council] felt that the building was a serious risk to public safety and demolition had to be carried out immediately."

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