HOUSING bosses are hoping to bring a pub and shopping area to a new Irvine housing estate, the Times can exclusively reveal.

Dawn Homes was recently given planning permission by North Ayrshire Council to build 144 new homes in North Newmoor Industrial Estate and the firm’s managing director says they are “in talks” with some big name high street retailers and pub chains to make the development even more exciting.

In an exclusive interview with the Irvine Times, MD Martin Egan said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the first phase of the development.

“We have now entered into discussions with the road department and other consultees to ensure we are on target for work to start in Spring next year.

“We have the planning approved for 144 houses in phase one. In phase two there will be another 150 or so homes which we will hopefully get approved and that will bring the total to around 300.

“All going well we are also hoping to have a pub and possibly a shopping development in the area facing Stanecastle roundabout. We are in talks with some major shop and pub chains at the moment but obviously I can’t say exactly who as nothing has been confirmed, but we are in talks and the hope is that we will be able to transform that entire area.”

Planning chiefs gave the green light to Dawn Homes’ application for phase one of the North Newmoor development last month, which will see 144 two and three bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses in the vacant space in the industrial estate, just off Stanecastle Roundabout.

Irvine Times:

The first phase of the development will sit in the northern half of the site between Crompton Way and Manson Road.

Phase two, which has yet to be approved, would be smaller and would sit in the southern half of the site, to the south of Crompton Way, behind the Tennents factory, which was formerly Wallaces Express.

Dawn Homes currently has an ongoing popular development in Annick Gardens in Perceton and is looking to expand within the town.

Mr Egan said: “The site at Annick Gardens has been very popular. We have already sold 80 per cent of the first phase and we are currently starting work on phase two which is moving into the second field. It’s a very lovely site, it’s got a nice rural feel but the houses are very modern and it’s proving to be a popular combination.”

The application for the North Newmoor site was first lodged with planning chiefs in February this year and, after neighbourhood consultations resulted in one objection about potential disruption to existing business within the industrial estate should future homeowners complain about noise.

The objection reads: “There are existing businesses within North Newmoor which have significant economic benefit to Irvine and North Ayrshire.

“Due to business demand, increased working hours and weekend working is now common which necessitates the movement of regular HGV traffic. There are concerns that there could be noise complaints from future residents given the proximity to residential properties, particularly in relation to later residential phases.”

However Dawn Homes responded: “Access into the distribution warehouses is separated from commercial traffic to enter the residential development area.

“Environmental Health has not objected to the development subject to the implementation of the noise mitigation measures as detailed in the Noise Impact Assessment.

“This would be addressed by the imposition of an appropriate planning condition.

“Environmental Health also advises that any subsequent planning application for future residential phases should also be subject to a Noise Impact Assessment to ensure that adequate mitigation measures can be achieved and implemented with respect to noise levels to noise sensitive properties.”

Housing chiefs are also hoping to include two recreational spaces for children to play as well as adequate parking provision for residents.