The Friends of the Broadway Prestwick group recently received a £15,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Activating Ideas fund, and the appointment follows a highly competitive selection process in which a number of firms submitted excellent bids.

The study will investigate the current state of the building, along with potential uses to benefit the local community.

It is expected to commence later in February, and the firm expect work on the study to be completed by the end of March.

Eilidh Henderson, project lead and depute of arts and culture at Page\Park, said: “1930’s Scotland saw an explosion of a new type of building, the Art Deco cinema. Page\Park are delighted to have been successful in the bid to lead a team on the journey with the Friends of the Broadway Prestwick to think about the future use and transformation of the cinema into an attractive community asset.”

The C-listed Broadway has a rich and interesting history. Originally opened in April 1935, the architect for the building was Alister G. MacDonald, son of Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

The building had a variety of uses over the years – at one time it was used as a bingo hall before later being reopened as a cinema in the 1970s. The last ever film screened in the Broadway was One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, on Saturday November 20th 1976.

Since that time it had a variety of uses, including as an amusement arcade and squash court. The building, however, has been unused since the early 2000s, and Friends of the Broadway Prestwick hope that ultimately the building can be brought into community ownership.

Leica Malkin, chair of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick, added: “The feasibility study is a vital component for assessing and progressing with the project, and our group are all very much looking forward to working with Page\Park. They join us in the belief that the Broadway will once again play a significant role in the Prestwick community as a key social and cultural focal point in the town centre.”

The results of the feasibility study are expected in late March, and Friends of the Broadway Prestwick will use them to guide the next stages of the campaign.