A new housing estate of 92 homes got the go-ahead in the Girdle Toll area of Irvine.

Developer Dawn Homes was granted planning permission to build the houses on six hectares of farmland on Lochlibo Road east of Sourlie Roundabout. 

There will only be two bungalows while the rest of the properties will be two storeys high. 

North Ayrshire Council's planning committee unanimously approved the homes this week (December 2) after the Times first reported the plans back in early September.

Councillor Ronnie McNicol told the meeting it is “pretty poor” that there are so few bungalows for the elderly. 

Senior council planning manager Jim Miller said the decision was market led and he is satisfied there are a range of house types. 

Committee chair councillor Tom Marshall said: “I think we should send out a clear message that North Ayrshire Council planning is looking to developers to provide more of these types of single storey houses.”

A council report said there will be nine different types of houses to choose from. The designs are the same as a development beside the Old Stewarton Road in Perceton in the town. 

Most of the properties are to be detached while 24 will be semi detached. 

Houses will boast back and front gardens and face on to a large open square with a play area for children.

During consultation residents raised concerns over the houses fueling traffic congestion in the area as well as flooding worries. 

Councillor Ian Clarkson raised the issue of  traffic from the development going past Lawthorn Primary and asked for information on places available at nearby schools. 

Councillor Clarkson asked: “Is there anyway we can look to deter the traffic going past Lawthorn School?”

Mr Miller said there is a plan to discourage traffic from Lochlibo road using traffic calming.  

He said: “The traffic calming doesn’t start until further south of Lawthorn Primary. There is a clear discouragement for traffic to use that road. Traffic accessing the new development has a clear run on to Sourlie Roundabout.”

Responding to a question about whether schools have enough room, Mr Miller said there is adequate capacity. 

He told the meeting 342 children currently attend Lawthorn Primary with space for 417. St John Ogilvie Primary has a roll of 168 and capacity for 214 pupils. 

It is estimated about 28 children could attend both primary schools from the new homes.

Another 19 pupils from the new development would go to nearby Greenwood and St Matthew’s Academies according to estimates.