Our teams first major success as a disruptor in the design and build sector. Unanimous approval for an eco-therapy park in East Ayrshire. A former colliery site known locally as the Barony will become a nature-based wellbeing destination.
National Pride and Boomhaus has won initial approval for an ‘eco-wellness park’ on a former colliery in Scotland, almost a year after Scott Brownrigg’s proposals for the site were refused
The Sheffield and London-based outfit, which brings together architecture, landscape design, construction, contracting and eco-tourism expertise, took over from Scott Brownrigg on the £65 million Barony project last year.
In February East Ayrshire councillors had voted 7-6 against the plans for 200 accommodation units in lodges and geodesic domes on the former mine near Auchinleck. The scheme also included a museum dedicated to the people who worked at the mine and the four miners who died there when a shaft collapsed in 1965.
Project backer National Pride subsequently reconsidered its approach and went back to the drawing board, bringing in environmental consultancy Apem and designers Boomhaus – a two-year-old collective which describes itself as a ‘disruptor in the field of construction design and building’. Its directors include Rory Harmer, formerly a partner at Tate Harmer and now also managing director of Studio Becoming, and engineer Saul Slater.
The latest application was granted to subject to conditions including the mitigation of any adverse impacts on the biodiverse nature networks and the site’s natural environment.
Irene Bisset, chair of National Pride, said: ‘We understand and accept the imposed conditions [… which] we will achieve through careful planning and design.
‘Our hope is to continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver wholly sustainable and ecologically friendly solutions that will achieve the best development outcome for this beautiful site.’
Bisset added: ‘We would also like to recognise and appreciate the significant support of local groups in backing our proposals and to convey our sincere thanks to them for this.’
Work could start on site next January.