Plans to make lodges at Dundonald Links available for sale

An application has been submitted to North Ayrshire Council's planning department seeking to alter a condition of consent previously granted by the authority.

Permission was previously gained for the creation of 124 lodges at the popular Irvine golf course - which regularly hosts the Women's Scottish Open.

This was to be completed in two phases with the initial part of the project - seeing the development of the course's clubhouse and 40 units of the accommodation put in place - already finalised.

The second phase will see another 84 lodges built, though applicants Darwin Alternative Investment say that a change is required to make this viable.

Initially, planners attached a condition to approval that occupation of the lodges is to be limited to people visiting Dundonald Links for holiday purposes only.

The maximum letting period was fixed at 30 days over any 12 month period.

It was added that the facilities should not be sold, let, or sub-let for any other purpose without the prior written approval of North Ayrshire Council.

The application looks to keep this condition in place for 90 lodges though it seeks to make 34 available for sale.

A proposed amendment to this previous conditions adds that the site operator must maintain a register of occupiers for each year, which is available at any time for viewing by the council.

While it re-states that no lodges would be occupied as a permanent residence.

Each of the 34 lodges to be made available for sale would be a portion of those planned as part of phase two of the development.

If approved, this would be the sole change to the application previously granted approval.

Planning documents supporting the application added: "The introduction of lodges made available for sale will deliver clear and measurable economic benefits.

"Delivering phase two solely as rental accommodation would require substantial upfront capital investment and would rely on extended payback periods that are dependent on seasonal occupancy trends.

"Allowing holiday lodge sales will generate immediate capital receipts, improve cash flow, and enable the entirety of phase two to come forward as approved.

"Diversifying the core customer base will protect the long-term viability of existing facilities by reducing reliance on seasonal golf tourism alone. Introducing a portion of lodges for sale at Dundonald Links Golf Course is necessary and justified.

"This is particularly important given that Dundonald Links is a championship-level golf resort and a significant tourism asset at both local and regional scales."

The proposed amendment was submitted to North Ayrshire Council earlier this week and is pending consideration.

A decision on the application is anticipated to take place at a committee level around mid-May.