The owner of a deteriorating historic schoolhouse in Ardrossan failed to follow a council notice and will now be expected to foot the bill for safety works.

Seafield House on Eglinton Road has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect following a fire in 2017 that left much of the building burned out.

The site was formerly owned by the council who then sold it to Quarrier’s who in turn sold it to D McLaughlin and Sons builders at a cost of nearly £900,000.

Previously, following a petition from locals, the owners had made assurances that the former schoolhouse would be developed.

Since then, North Ayrshire Council served D McLaughlin and Sons, based in Irvine, with a notice requiring them to board up windows and doorways, clean-up mess and move demolition rubble.

But because the builders have not complied, NAC is planning to carry out the work itself before seeking to regain the costs.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Seafield House, Ardrossan, before it fell into disrepair. Credit George McGrattan.Seafield House, Ardrossan, before it fell into disrepair. Credit George McGrattan.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We issued an amenity notice on the site which requires the owner to board windows and door openings on Seafield House and Seafield Stables, remove litter and refuse from the site and move all the demolition rubble within the site.

“As the land owner has not complied with the notice we have the authority to carry out the works ourselves. The works are currently being organised and will be carried out in a number of phases. Costs can be sought from the owner.”

Residents have suggested different plans to ‘save’ Seafield House, with the planning service previously looking into the possible compulsory purchase and resale to a third party of the building.

D McLaughlin and Sons had yet to comment as we went to press.