UNITED SET OUT VISION FOR FANS
Social club part of exciting plans
Ayr United say their ambition for the future is behind plans to build new supporter facilities.
Designs have been unveiled for a social club named The Somerset Hub along with offices and a shop.
The building would replace United’s current offices and retail offering, along with a derelict former property on the corner of Tryfield Place.
The project is being backed by owner Lachlan Cameron and newly elected vice-chair David Smith.
Plans have been lodged with South Ayrshire Council.
Ayr architects Denham Benn have worked on the scheme with Mr Smith’s Ashleigh Building firm ready to lead on the construction.
A club spokesman told the Post: “Recent times have been tough around Somerset Park with uncertainty in what have been a stressful few months.
“We have tried at all times to do the very best we can for our Ayr United circle in the short term and can’t wait to see the team back on the park again.
“Whilst dealing with everything around Covid-19 it’s been a very pleasant distraction to closely look at the long-term strategy of the club alongside our ambition for the future.
“The Somerset Hub is very much part of that long-term strategy and we are delighted to see our planning application validated and hopefully start the process of working its way through the pre-development stages and consultations towards its commencement.”
They added: “Our offices and shop are past their sell-by date and the opportunity to develop the area next to the stadium into the Somerset Hub to future-proof these alongside a new social club is the right direction for the club to take.
“To make the club sustainable and attract talent and potential investment we need to firstly have the correct infrastructure in place.
“Ambition and strategy don’t come for free unfortunately so Lachlan Cameron and David Smith are funding the Somerset Hub with Ayr United being the beneficiaries so that our income streams continue to increase and allow us to move onto further stages of our strategy.
“It’s an exciting step forward for the club and will act as an attractive gateway into the stadium in the future.
“We will work closely with South Ayrshire Council and other consultees over the next period relative to planning permission and look forward to the day we can grab a couple of pints in it before and after a game.”