AN HISTORIC Prestwick hotel intrinsically linked to the home of the first Open golf tournament is set to be turned into flats.

The Prestwick Old Course Hotel was built in 1854, just a few years before the Open teed off at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860. 

The course would be home to the Open for the next 12 years, and remained on the rota until 1925.

Ayr Advertiser:

Submitted by Thomson Hunter Architects, it is proposed to refurbish the Prestwick Old Course Hotel, with partial demolition, alterations and add an extension onto the current hotel on Links Road.

The design proposal is to retain the “traditional stone façade” which the applicants consider to be “critical in retaining the character of the street and surrounding context”.

It is hoped for the applicant to “retain and enhance the original stone at the front of the building. 

“Rear elevations would be predominantly white render. To reduce the impact of the rear extension the use of vertical zinc cladding is proposed to the penthouse roof and elements of the rear building.”

The site would be large and would have balconies to the rear so that they do not interfere with the original stonework on the front of the building. A penthouse would be integrated into the roof over the main building with balcony set back into the roof.

On the detailed application, it says: “Links Road has seen a number of new build flatted developments in recent years and our proposals take careful consideration of the recently introduced conservation area policies and take careful consideration of the existing building and its surrounding context.”

However, the application has already received an objection from a resident on Links Road.

Scottish Water offered no objection to the planning application and said: “Scottish Water has no objection to this; however, the applicant should be aware that this does not confirm that the proposed development can currently be serviced. 

“There is currently sufficient capacity in the Bradan Water Treatment Works, however, please note that further investigations may be required to be carried out once a formal application has been submitted to us.”

There is less than 20 days for the public to submit their comments on the planning application on the South Ayrshire Council website.