LISTED building consent to improve the waiting room at Saltcoats railway station has been granted by North Ayrshire Council after parts of the existing building were deemed unsafe and un-salvageable.

Work was initially deemed to be repair work with modern linings being replaced and traditional features repaired.

This was following a non-disruptive survey of the building in June of 2021, by IDP Architects on behalf of Network Rail, who then liaised with NAC regarding proposed repair works until January this year.

However, once a disruptive site survey was undertaken, in September, the condition of the existing cornice was deemed unsafe/un-salvageable.

The council was then advised, a photo record undertaken, and it was confirmed the works would require listed building consent.

IDP Architects have been granted permission to alter the waiting room by replacing external doors with auto doors, removing modern block work infill above the street entrance doors and installing new timber fanlight.

They will also remove remaining damaged plaster cornices with new plain run cornice profiled to match original, install a plasterboard ceiling in lieu of water damaged plaster and lathe and suspended grid ceilings, renew plasterboard wall linings and extending height of linings to original ceiling height & adding heritage style lighting.

The work is to be carried out in association with previously consented external works with the purpose of preventing ongoing building fabric damage from water ingress at the entrance doors.

This application was initially submitted to North Ayrshire Council as the planning authority on October 12 of this year - before it was approved on November 23.

Documents do not indicate when work will commence or be completed.