ONE of the focal points of Ardrossan’s architectural landscape is set to be sold for the second time in 12 months after being listed in a public auction scheduled for next week.
The 19th century Barony St John’s Church, on Princes Street, will go under the hammer on Thursday alongside more than 300 other lots in the Future Property Auctions catalogue.
The online sale will run between 10am and 3pm on April 7 with a starting price for the church of £52,000.
The building is described as an “attractive 1844 Gothic church” with “potential for conversion to 12 residential dwellings”.
The auction listing states: “Ideal auction purchase for investor/developer with potential development of up to 12 flats in sought after location.
“Realistic sale value of over £100,000 per property upon completion in sought after stunning location on Ayrshire coast offering uninterrupted views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and beyond.”
Local charity The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety took over the site in 2015 and planned to develop the space into a music and events venue.
However, a lack of financial and political backing for the idea put paid to the grand proposals and the building was placed on the market around 18 months ago.
Alan Bell, founder of the charity, posted on his Ardrossman blog at the time: “From 2018 until 2020, we have tried our best to get backing for this project, not just financial backing but also project support from the council and various ‘movers and shakers’ in the area.
“Despite our best efforts, unfortunately we could not get this project off the ground and when Storm Brendan hit and devastated the connecting corridor back in December last year, I began to think maybe it was an omen.
“The church building now has several leaks from various missing roof tiles and this combined with the lack of heating for well over a decade in the building has caused plasterwork to collapse and window frames to become loose.
READ MORE: New buyer hopes to save Barony building with potential flat plans (from April 2021)
“Every year the building is left derelict sees the chances of it being saved reduce further. The time has come to let someone else have a go at saving this building before it is too late.”
The former church was bought early last year by Tom Easton, managing director of V2 Construction, who hoped to preserve the building after a “spur of the moment purchase”.
He told the Herald of his plans to be use the building for luxury flats – with the potential use for offices or a venue.
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