Bank office gets Listed status from HES group

Brutalist-style Foregate building exterior to get proper legal protection

- ROSS DUNN

A Kilmarnock town centre bank has been awarded listed building status in a surprise move by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

The Brutalist-style building at the top of the Foregate area was awarded category C status by the public body set up to protect the country's most vital venues.

Now home to Virgin Money, the brick, concrete and glass bank was built in 1975-76 for Clydesdale Bank to designs by Hay, Steel and Partners.

The three-storey building was erected during a major programme of regenerative urban planning in Kilmarnock.

A report from HES reads: "Former Clydesdale Bank, 30 Foregate, Kilmarnock meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for the following reasons:

"For its high-quality exterior design as a striking example of modern Brutalist commercial architecture.

"As an unusual example of a purpose-built bank of notable architectural quality dating from the late postwar period.

"As a prominent, well-designed building in the comprehensive development of Kilmarnock in the 1970s, which transformed the town centre."