A disused atrium at Ayr Railway Station could reopen under plans submitted by Network Rail, in a move intended to improve passenger movement and restore a prominent part of the listed Victorian building.
Network Rail has applied to South Ayrshire Council for listed building consent to refurbish the area at the end of platforms one and two. The atrium has been unused for several years because of its closeness to the former station hotel, which was considered dangerous before demolition work began.
What is planned for the atrium?
The proposed refurbishment would bring the space back into use and help passengers move through the station, particularly at busy times. Network Rail said the work could also support safety within the station, after temporary measures introduced following the hotel fire affected the passenger experience and the character of the listed building.
The plans include replacing the floor with Vebroflex Bounce UV resin flooring and installing temporary timber hoarding against the interior walls. Broken roof glazing would be repaired or replaced, while the glazed walls would be cleaned and stickers removed.
Existing automatic doors described in the application as dilapidated would be removed. New seating, vending machines and replacement customer information screen boards would be installed for passengers.
Heritage lighting would be refurbished, with missing units replaced by units matching those already in the atrium. Where possible, broken lights held in storage would be reused. Metalwork, including the columns and roof trusses, would be cleaned and repainted on a like-for-like basis.
The station’s roof canopies were previously changed from glazing to polycarbonate sheets. Any replacements included in this scheme would use the same material.
Station history and wider regeneration
Ayr station opened in 1885 and is known for its glazed canopies. Its adjacent hotel was largely destroyed by fire in September 2023. The station was affected by the fire, but Network Rail said it had not been irreversibly damaged and that many traditional features remained.
The hotel had been in poor physical condition since the early 2010s. That led to temporary measures to protect the building and passengers, followed by further measures after the fire so the station could continue operating safely.
Long-term plans are being developed to regenerate the wider station complex, but planning documents say there is currently no timeframe for delivering a full regeneration scheme. Funding has been secured for the atrium work in the meantime.
“We are of the view that the proposed refurbishment works will be a net positive for the station.”
Network Rail said the scheme would bring a disused area back into use while highlighting traditional features currently obscured. It also said the work would improve passenger experience and flow, and would remain in keeping with the character of an operational Victorian railway station.
A decision will be made through South Ayrshire Council’s listed building consent process.
