PLANS to create a new dog day care and training centre in Stevenston have been given the green light.

The owners of the Greenhead Bark Park, located next to Ardeer Golf Club, submitted proposals to North Ayrshire Council to expand their facility at the beginning of last month.

The site currently offers a two-acre secure dog run where pets can play off lead in a fun and safe environment, and management of the exercise area was taken on by applicant Cameron Gillespie and his wife in July 2020.

And on Friday the pair were given the go-ahead for their expansion plans, which would allow for the creation of a new dog daycare and for training classes to be offered at the facility.

In a supporting statement lodged with the expansion plans, Mr Gillespie said the proposals would provide "a positive social impact to the local community".

The document said: "There is a high demand for dog day care locally and most establishments are at maximum capacity, with waiting lists and are unable to take on new clients.

"Given that we are already operating an existing secure dog exercise area on the same location, we feel we are well equipped to provide this service – offering a caring environment with adequate outdoor space for exercise and training as well as indoor space to create opportunities for mental and sensory stimulation."

Now plans have the all clear, it is intedned that modular buildings taken from another site will be installed and renovated on the Greenhead Holdings land, with dog day care services operating Monday-Friday within them.

This area of the business is inteded to run from 7.30/8am until 6/6.30pm from Monday to Friday, to support drop-off and collection times based on the median working hours of prospective clients.

While the supporting statement added: "During evenings and weekends, it is our intention to utilise the same building to offer dog training classes and workshops.

"This will allow us to provide services that are in demand and offers an indoor alternative where the weather does not support an outdoor class in the field.

"In the first instance it is not our intention to employ any staff while this portion of the business is being established.

"However, as demand increases, we hope to be able to create employment opportunities locally."