PLANS for up to 60 new homes to be built within an Irvine industrial estate have been given the go-ahead - after fears that the development might "curtail" the operations of a longstanding business nearby were allayed.

Land at Crompton Way, part of the North Newmoor industrial estate, is currently vacant brownfield ground and has been earmarked by applicants Manse (Irvine) LLP for a mix of house types including detached, semi-detached, and terraced two-storey dwellings.

Manse also owns the industrial facility next to the proposed development site, which is currently occupied by Amer Sports Ltd, and the suggested plots would follow on from Persimmon Homes’ Annick Grange development of almost 200 houses just north of the site.

One public objection was submitted to North Ayrshire Council against the plans, which were revealed in February.

Commenting in the objection letter, a spokesperson for Amer Sports noted a "matter of deep concern" that an area of car park currently used by the company had been included as part of the housing development site boundary.

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The firm said: "It is imperative that this area is retained in full and unhindered as an operational car parking area for Amer."

The application has since been updated following discussions with the company, and the car park is no longer included in the development site, with Amer director and operations manager, Alistair Carey, describing the outcome as "a very positive one for the business".

Further issues had been raised over the impact on operations for the business due to the close proximity of the proposed housing development.

The objection letter added: "Whilst Amer accepts that additional residential use in this area is inevitable due to the allocation of land within the Local Development Plan, they have strong reservations as to how much they will be 'squeezed' as an existing industrial user/operator.

"There is a pressing need to ensure that Amer are not curtailed and are protected in their operations as a longstanding, economic contributor and valuable employer in the area."

Mr Carey said the final application "has taken into account all of the objections and is a positive outcome for Amer".

At a meeting of the council's planning committee yesterday (Wednesday, August 24), councillors approved the application for planning permission, with several conditions attached.

One of those conditions - and the only which makes any mention of the neighbouring business - states that before any work starts on site, full details of the proposed acoustic barrier to be erected between the development and the Amer Sports warehouse must be provided to the local authority, "in order to ensure that the dwellinghouses hereby approved are not affected by noise from the neighbouring warehouse".