DEMOLITION work has now begun on the former maternity buildings at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine.

Teams were seen working on the building at the beginning of this month after plans to demolish the old buildings were approved back in December.

Just before the demolition team moved in, however, local photographer Kevin Lundy ventured inside the vacant buildings to have a last look before the buildings are razed to the ground. 

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

So what is the plan for the land now?

The buildings, on Kilwinning Road, have been closed for more than a decade since the move of Ayrshire maternity services to University Hospital Crosshouse near Kilmarnock.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

North Ayrshire Council (NAC) bought the site from the NHS in March 2021.

The land is a key site in the council's plan to build 1,625 new homes across North Ayrshire by 2027.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

The maternity residences, which have often been the target of vandals, are listed with Historic Environment Scotland, so could not be demolished without permission being granted.

But at the same time the buildings were considered beyond repair and not capable of being retained for redevelopment.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

It is intended that once the buildings are torn down, 202 new homes will be built on the side - including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom properties.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

It had been previously been stated that NAC intended construction to start in the spring of this year - meaning work is currently progressing as planned.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

The images captured by Kevin show just how much the building has deteriorated in the course of the last decade.

And many locals were taken aback when they first saw its desparate state - as were lots of people who used to work there.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

One said: "Heartbreaking to see it like this. Loved working there."

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

Another added: "Very sad. I was born there. Many a person walked those halls and many a new baby cry has been heard."

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

Several others commented on the "creepy" nature of the buildings - which won't be visible in Irvine for too much longer.

Irvine Times: Inside the abandoned old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

The demolition of the hospital buildings was finally given the green light in December.

However, the Scottish Civic Trust, which opposed the demolition bid, insisted a structural report on the buildings was "to say the least, superficial".

The demolition plans were announced last summer - and within weeks fire crews were called to put out a blaze in one of the derelict buildings.