Former Combat Stress base at Hollybush House to make way for new luxury hotel and spa offering

Changes could be on the way at Hollybush House, the former Ayrshire home of veterans' charity Combat Stress
-Credit: (Image: Daily Record)


A former care facility that was the Ayrshire home of veterans’ charity Combat Stress is to become luxury property - with a hotel and spa.

And the associated buildings at Hollybush House will be turned into hotel/guest accommodation, under new plans.

Ayrshire Live can also reveal that the hotel side of the business will host visitors to the region as part of a wellness retreat offering.

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The proposals are contained within a planning application to East Ayrshire Council, seeking a change of use at the estate.

In her planning application, the applicant, Ms I Carnegie, said: “The estate comprises a mansion house and ancillary buildings including accommodation annex, activity centre and two cottages.

“The property was previously used as a care home but has been vacant for a few years now. The request is for the following: 1- Amend mansion house within estate to Class 9 (houses) 2- Amend the accommodation annex, activity centre and two cottages as a Hotel/Guest House with spa (Class 7).”

In a supporting statement the applicant said: “The planning permission change is for change of use only.

“There will be no changes to the listed building at all, externally or internally. The only works will be cosmetic decoration inside such as painting, wallpapering etc.

“The building has been empty for a number of years and we would like to bring it back to life.

“In interests of transparency, although planning is being requested for Class 9 (house) the intention is that this would be a luxury property for short term letting in future and an application for this will be made.

“The ancillary buildings will be a Hotel/Guest house (unlicensed) with the two cottages on the location plan being guest suites as well as the 14 basic bedrooms in the accommodation annex. There will be no restaurant or bar open to the public and the hotel will host residents exclusively as a wellness retreat.”

In July 2021 we told how Combat Stress announced their intention to move away from Hollybush House, ending an association with Ayrshire stretching back 35 years.

At the time they said the facility was ‘no longer suitable’ for them to deliver modern services.

They also cited ‘limited access to public transport’ to Hollybush House and ‘extensive repairs’ to the building as factors in the decision to pack up and relocate to Edinburgh.

In March last year the property was placed on the market with offers of more than £750,000 being invited.

The proposals are on the East Ayrshire Council online planning portal and a decision is expected towards the end of October.