A HISTORIC building in Stevenston has been sold - for more than £30,000 below the asking price.

Africa House, on Lundholm Road in the Ardeer Industrial Estate, was listed for sale with estate agents TSA Property Consultants back in May.

The B-lkisted building had a starting auction price of more than £100,000 - but there were no takers at the time.

However, according to TSA's website, the property has now been sold - for just £68,000.

Africa House was built for the British Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in 1938.

It was constructed as a temporary structure built to house an exhibit of South African goods and, following the event, was purchased by ICI Nobel.

The company transported the structure from Glasgow to their explosives manufacturing plant in Ardeer. 

It was rebuilt brick by brick at the ICI site, where it was used as the staff kitchen and canteen.

Clowes Development (Scotland) Ltd were the last known owners of the property, though it is unclear whether it was this same company who were selling the building this time around.

In the online listing describing the site, the historic building is noted as being in a "prime location".

Further to this, it adds that the 1.81 acre site has "the potential for residential or commercial development (subject to gaining necessary consents)".

There is no information to confirm who has purchased the site this year however, looking into the past of the property it appears unlikely that such a development would be feasible.

Back in May 2021, plans to demolish the property were halted after pressure from a community group and the Herald.

The 'Friends of Stevenston' mounted a campaign to save it from the wrecking ball after Clowes Development Ltd lodged a planning application seeking permission to tear down the listed building.

And after the group applied the pressure, the application was later withdrawn.

Speaking at the time, Jean Frew, of the Friends of Stevenston, said: “I will now be emailing my locally elected members to ensure that this building is protected going forward.

"It must not be left at this. Action is still required to assure its survival.”