Demolition work at historic Ayr Station Hotel halted after owner launches legal bid

Demolition work at the Ayr Station Hotel has been suspended ahead of a court hearing on Friday.

Three teens were arrested and charged after the hotel was deliberately set on fire on September 25, 2023 – the second time the 130-year-old hotel had been set alight that year.

The Category B listed building was deemed to be unsafe under Section 29 of the Dangerous Buildings (Scotland) Act and safety work at the site was started by South Ayrshire Council in April.

Council bosses said that work to demolish the tower and half of the northern section of the building was to be completed by the summer.

Glasgow & West

Parts of historic hotel to be demolished following devastating blaze

Ayr Station Hotel went up in flames in September 2023, and now work is ongoing to demolish what is left of the site.

They estimated that works would take around nine weeks, with a completion date set for June 17.

However, South Ayrshire Council has now confirmed that demolition work has been “temporarily suspended” after the building’s owner launched a legal challenge.

Eng Haut Ung, also known as Sunny Ung, a Malaysian property tycoon, owns the building located next to Ayr train station.

The case will be heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday.

A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Work has been temporarily suspended until a hearing at the Court of Session which takes place today (3/5/24).”

Stranraer railway station remains closed due to the extent of the fire, and South Ayrshire Council confirmed it was working with ScotRail and other partners to ensure trains can run again “as soon as possible”.