South Ayrshire Council News

A new museum building, that will replace the existing ‘Tam O’Shanter Experience’ at Murdoch’s Lone in Ayr, has been given planning permission by members of South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel.

Councillor Nan McFarlane, Chair of the Council’s Regulatory Panel said: “The new museum will be somewhere that people of all ages, both locals and visitors to the area, can learn about Robert Burns in an exciting new environment. I am particularly pleased that this development will have the space to house many interesting and historically important items in a way that will preserve them for future generations.

“This will become a ‘must see’ attraction that will boost the local economy and I am sure that it will become a well known landmark in South Ayrshire, Scotland and internationally.”

The ‘Tam O’Shanter Experience’ will be demolished and a new museum built on a portion of the existing car park and the remaining parking area landscaped. A new car park will be created with the landscaped gardens at the front of Murdoch’s Lone and a new access created for vehicles.

The new museum will have display galleries, collection stores, display workshop space, a reading area, educational facilities, a retail store, cafeteria and administration office space. Very importantly the new building will provide suitably heated, ventilated, safe and secure accommodation for a wide range of exhibits and will have four times the amount of space than in the existing museum.