Property boss admits 'underestimating' historic building's refurbishment and wants to demolish it

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A bid to demolish one of Kilmarnock's most historic buildings has been lodged.The owner of the grade B listed Belford Mill claims that the former textile factory is a health and safety risk and commercially unviable.Alex Watson, managing director of AM properties, said in an application to East Ayrshire Council that the building, which dates back to 1881, would cost £1.3 million to bring up to scratch.The Lawson Street factory and surrounding buildings have been owned by the property company since 2009 and while "all other areas have been refurbished", Mr Watson admitted his firm "under estimated the extent of the repairs required to the 4 storey section".A report lodged to council planners detailing a bid to bring the historic building down claims the firm have actively marketed the venue since 2014 but have had "no offers to lease / purchase the property."The firm reportedly launched a bid to have the building used for affordable housing with major developers concluding that the site was "effectively undevelopable".A supporting statement from Mr Watson concludes: "The building is commercially unviable to repair, due to the significant structural repairs required /associated substantial costs and lack of any potential end user."We trust that East Ayrshire Council Planning Department shall support this application to demolish."Councillor Graham Boyd wants to see the building saved from the scrapheap.He said: "This grade B listed building was built 1881 - 87 at the height of the Industrial Revolution as a textile mill.

Kilmarnock had many such buildings, the vast majority have been lost. "This building is architecturally striking, the lower floor double height to accommodate ten large looms, the walls made from yellow