Lairg Police Station Main Street IV27 4DB Bunkhouse Feasibility Study April 2018 Summary of brief The Lairg & District Community Initiatives (LDCI) has commissioned a feasibility study of the former Police Station in Lairg in order to assess its suitability for conversion into a tourist hostel. Other potential uses of the building which have been suggested include; • Youth club • Provision of storage space • Provision of facilities for cyclists including repairs and maintenance This study includes an assessment of the condition of the building and a concept design for the optimal conversion of the building From the initial assessment conversion to a tourist hostel would be an appropriate re-use of the building. The cellular nature of the spaces lend themselves to use as twin and double rooms with the possible inclusion of two larger dormitory style rooms on the upper floor. Provision of appropriate car parking and cycle parking will need to be considered as part of the change of use planning application. Lairg Police Station, Main Street, IV27 4DB Feasibility Study 03.04.18 MANSE Lahncari Sydney Lodge Location Plan ROAD Clais na Buaile Manse Ann Villa El Sub Sta Drain Gilmorehill Extent of Site Sydney House Drain Extent of land in same Hut Circles and Field System Springfield Lochview Moss Bank Glencairn Tynron Fairwinds ownership Oldshore Cairn Summersby Lairg Laurgillyn 6 Muirlands Lochside Thistledown An Luirg Lairg Play Area ullochard MANSE An Luirg T Lairg Police Station 1 1 ROAD Stittenham GP Hazelbank Kincora 7 1 8 14 Craggie Corner 25 9 Main Street 10 (caravan) 126.5m Rathvilly 30 104.9m 1 Scaraben 19 Lairg 6 6 25 A 836 24 5 Lairg 8 Free 4 Presbyterian 88.4m 1 Oakhaven 15 IV27 4DB Church 1 1 0 .6m ETL Sta Car 18 Sub Sydney Court El Park Garage Glengowrie Manse Balenaloch 37 The Stables 108.8m 38 Lairg Muir LB Lower Lairg Sharjah Dunalven Kestrel Lodge Inchure House Hill Cottage Roseville Shin CLASH BREAC The Grange House 29 Shalom Ardvreck Anin Glendarvel Douley Cottage Struan El Sub St Grange Bar Lochview (PH) Rockfield Broomhill Ashgrove Ambleside 1 1 7 2 Ruin Path 24 Rowanside Rhinivie Wa r Memorial Lairg Church of Scotland 4 1 3 5 2 6 Dunrobin Allt MILNCLARIN a' Ch 1 oi Brook Cottage n Kirkside W A du Y inn FB Glenavon l Ex e T Achany View Drain 5 4 Car Park 1 Burn Cottage 44 T w r Little Loch Shin Broom Cottage House Milnaclarin Albion 1 Taylors House H-EAGLAIS 3 A 2 N Drain C O N C 3 4 Oasis Drain A THAD 83 9 RA 170 El Sub 1 Depot Sta 2 ROAD L L Lairg Primary School NIGHEACHAIN) I H St Murie Sutherland Bank AICH The Old Sawmill Court Car ANT Saddler's Park CHURCH Lagbuie THAD House Health Centre (RA Cairnlea Marscow PC 12 Jetty PO Car Park 2 Strathaird e Leadnagullen g Rowanlea a t t 14 o 28 1 C k iverton T Eilean na Craoibhe a Fernlea TCB O Cnocgrianach House Community ROAD CLASH BREAC masonry Y Hawthorn FB Centre El Sub St a l l i ynne V 1 1 7 LAUNDR Sloping L 2 Tennis Court 1 Craig Arch Brown New Shanamir 1 1 Cott Buildings 10 T w r Lairg MAIN STREET 9 Rosslyn Woodend Highland Burnside House Depot Police H Police ot 8 el House 1 Fire Station 4 1 Park House Acklam Cottage W oodl Braeside ands GHLINNE) Vie A wfield T El Sub Sta 9 (ALL 83 House Weaver's House The A Shieling DAVIDSON TERR Picnic Site 9 7 Baddidarroch GLEN BURN Playing Field 6 Fire 5 Dola l Path (um) Shin Ferrycroft Cottages (um) 3 Path Caravan Park Drain Beannach 4 Craggie Drain Station Pond Football Ground 3 FB Braeside Strathwin rack Ferrycroft T Countryside Centre Ferrycroft Donetive Drain Tordarroch Ord Place Ben Hope Benmore rack T Suliven Klibreck 70 Drain Builnatobernich Ord Place Arkle 66 El Fionaven Sub Sta 85.0m Path (um) 59 57 61 A 8 50 3 51 6 9 A 83 FB 45 1 DA The Black VIDSON TERR Duka Bridge 46 33 42 TCB T H E TERRACE 38 40 Filling FB 6 34 Station LB 36 23 32 1 13 85.0m Location Plan Carnbren 0 500 M Site Plan 0 5 10 15 20 25 M 1 2 Scale: 1:5000 Scale: 1:500 PROJECT Lairg Police Station CH Architecture Lairg Police Station, Main Street, IV27 4DB The Barn, Drovers Square, Ardgay, CLIENT Lairg & District Community Initiatives Feasibility Study 03.04.18 Sutherland, IV24 3AL T : 01863 766 190 D A T E SCALE Information contained on this drawing is the sole copyright of March 2018 1:5000/1:1000 @ A 3 the architect and is not to be reproduced without their permission. DWG Status DWG Title DWG No. REV Feasibility Location Plan 184_100 / Interior views Entrance and Reception Office / potential room with ensuite Sound proof room (former interview room) Former medical room to be converted to an ensuite Cell door and cell interior Stair to first floor Upper large room suitable for dormitory Upper large room suitable for dormitory Potential bedroom (note high windows & escape issue) Potential ensuite to new bedroom Potential bedroom (note high windows & escape issue) Male Toilet Lairg Police Station, Main Street, IV27 4DB Feasibility Study 03.04.18 Building Analysis Existing building plans have been requested from Police Scotland but be shared by a maximum of two twin rooms and a separate shower either twin or double beds and as mentioned earlier the sound proof have yet to be provided. In their absence sketch plans have been drafted without an integrated toilet is inadequate. room could have an ensuite if the adjacent room is modified. following a cursory site survey. These may include some inaccuracies 6. Noise reduction: the transmission of noise between rooms should however they give sufficient detail to explore the key factors. be limited. Disturbance to occupants can occur from other areas On the upper floor it would be possible to convert the two large rooms within a residential building, therefore the level of sound heard should either into four person dormitories or family rooms. The provision of An initial visual assessment of the building indicated that it might be be reduced in the rooms in which people may sleep. The design ensuites for each room would be beneficial. possible to accommodate up to 24 beds through a mixture of twin, double performance level for internal walls and intermediate floors should and dormitory style rooms with shared male and female toilets and achieve a minimum airbourne sound insulation level of 43 dB Rw. It is It may be possible to provide two further double rooms with ensuites individual showers. However a more detailed examination of the layout, in assumed that because of the former use of the building, this level has provided that a suitable solution in relation to the high level velux windows relation to the current building regulations, indicates that it would be more already been met but early investigation should be carried out and an and alternative means of escape route can be agreed. realistic to work to a maximum number of 18 beds with the majority of allowance made to add acoustic insulation if required. rooms designed to have ensuite shower rooms. 7. Parking: If there are 18no. beds provided then it could be argued that The existing male and female toilets and shower room have been left 9no. parking spaces would be required however it has been noted intact. It should be pointed out that the shower room lacks an integrated There is an increasing expectation that ensuite rooms are provided and it that a large number of hostel users will be walkers and cyclists. It is WC and wash hand basin so would therefore not be considered as a is recommended that although the capital cost of the conversion will be therefore proposed that 6no. parking bays are provided on site, one of primary shower room for the bedrooms. An additional shower is always greater, the return is likely to be higher and more reliable. which will be an accessible bay with a defined and level route to the beneficial given the number of cyclists and walkers anticipated therefore it entrance. Space is limited on site and any additional parking would would to be beneficial to retain it. Should the project proceed it is recommended that early consultation is need to be provided on the road. It is recommended that this issue is held with Building Control as there are a number of issues which need to raised at an early stage with the planning department to ensure that a be addressed in order to make the conversion of the building from Police reasonable solution can be reached. Station to Tourist Hostel fully compliant with the regulations. Having reviewed the opportunity provided by the building, a sketch layout A summary of the key Building Control issues have been highlighted below; has been provide showing the possible arrangement of 2 ensuite rooms on 1. Fire escape: The existing stair is contained in a blockwork enclosure the ground floor and one room, the prison cell, provided with a separate and has an exit door leading directly to the exterior. It is therefore shower room. assumed that this is a protected enclosure and provides a compliant means of escape from the upper floor. This should be checked. The unisex disabled toilet adjacent to the prison cell would need to be 2. Fire detection: The provision of an L2 fire detection system suitable for retained to serve residents and staff.