A vacant unit on Ayr High Street could become a new BoyleSports betting shop under plans lodged with South Ayrshire Council. The proposal for 161 High Street includes a £350,000 refit and would create six jobs.
The application seeks permission to change the use of the premises from retail to a betting shop. BoyleSports has also applied for external and internal alterations to the building, which stands on the corner of High Street and Carrick Street.
What the plans involve
The property is a two-storey corner building. The ground floor contains an open-plan sales area, while the first floor includes storage and staff accommodation. The first floor has since been separated from the ground floor to form an independent unit, and is not included in the planning application.
Proposed changes include replacing the existing doors at the High Street and Carrick Street corner and installing a new safety-glass entrance door onto High Street. Three satellite dishes and two air-conditioning units would also be mounted on the side elevations of the two-storey section.
If approved, the betting shop would be open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Jobs and town-centre investment
The proposal would provide three full-time and three part-time positions. Planning documents also estimate that each new BoyleSports unit creates or supports 26 temporary construction jobs during a six-to-eight-week construction period.
The company’s planning case says bringing the empty unit back into use would contribute to Ayr town centre’s function and increase footfall. It argues that betting offices can attract regular repeat visits, potentially supporting nearby shops and services through linked trips.
The documents state that BoyleSports would invest approximately £350,000 in fitting out the premises. They also refer to business-rates contributions and the potential benefit of increased visits for the wider town-centre economy.
History of the High Street unit
The premises were most recently occupied by Keepsakes, which traded there from August 2022 until March 2025. Before that, the unit was occupied by Scotts from at least 2008 until April 2022.
The property has remained vacant since Keepsakes closed. The latest application would therefore change the use of an empty retail unit, although the proposal has not been presented as an approved development.
Residents can find the application and supporting documents on the South Ayrshire Council planning portal by searching for reference 26/00542/APP. The source material does not state when the council will decide the application.
