CONTROVERSIAL plans for an 85-home development in Kilwinning have been unanimously approved by North Ayrshire councillors.

The decision was made at a meeting of the local authority's planning committee on Wednesday, November 22.

Planning officers had recommended that the Keepmoat Scotland application, for a greenspace site north of Hazeldene Park, should be approved, subject to a number of conditions.

And all the councillors at Wednesday's meeting backed a motion to approve the plans.

The unanimous approval came in spite of 12 objections being lodged with North Ayrshire Council planning officials.

READ MORE: Concerns grow over plans to build 85 new homes on Kilwinning greenfield site

Objectors raised concerns around the use of green space, the effects on wildlife, the strain on infrastructure in the area, increased traffic on the roads network - and said that homes did not align with local housing needs.

Keepmoat said that a number of steps had been taken prior to submitting plans to take all of these factors into consideration.

READ MORE: Housing developer hits back after objections to plans for 85 homes in Kilwinning

The development was approved subject to seven conditions.

These included that the applicants stick to the submitted plans, that they submit a Construction Environmental Management Plan for approval prior to beginning work, full details of drainage systems should be approved by the council before development commences as well as the path connection network, a programme of archaeological works and of any planned landscaping.

Upon completion, the development - to the west of the B778 - will comprise 85 homes, incorporating a range of detached and semi-detached house types.

READ MORE: Kilwinning: Keepmoat Homes in bid to build 85 homes

Fifty-five of the new homes will be semi-detached with three bedrooms, seven will be detached with three bedrooms, 22 will be detached with four bedrooms, and one will be semi-detached with four bedroom.

A total of 215 parking spaces will be created for use within the development with both private driveways and communal parking courtyards.

To combat the loss of greenspace, existing hedge growth is to be retained - particularly around the Hazeldene Park boundary - where possible, and there is to be vegetation planting and species-rich grassland or flower meadows are to be created in the open public spaces.

Access to the site is to be provided by a simple priority T-junction from the B778 - with the speed limit past the development set to be reduced from 60mph to 30mph in due course.

A new two metre wide public footpath will be formed along the B778 to connect into the existing public footpath network which leads into the town.

For drainage reasons, the land adjacent to Blair Road on the western edge of the site will be raised, with path access to Blair Road featuring two flights of steps to overcome the change in ground level.

Full approved plans can be viewed via the council's online planning platform, searching for reference 23/00420/PPM.