AN AYRSHIRE based tech company has been given the green light to build on the site of a former Saltcoats hotel.

Microtech Business Intelligence plan on converting the land, which was previously the Grange Hotel but has been vacant for many years, into three commercial business units.

The proposals for the site also include parking provisions and the relocation of access to the adjacent public road.

The site is situated between the Smart Hand Car Wash on Erskine Place and the flats at Harbour Point in Saltcoats. The land itself is considered to be on Harbour Street.

Approval means that we will see the creation of three units, all to be 500 square feet in area.

Planning documents do not state whether Microtech themselves would look to use the units, or whether these would be leased to other companies and businesses.

Though the decision by North Ayrshire Council as planning authority will not have pleased all.

The proposal received four objections - all from those in neighbouring properties who raised concerns.

It appears these objections did delay the decision making process, though only because there was a delay in enighbours being notified.

Postal strikes, Christmas mail and national holidays meant those who were due to be notified did not receive notification of the proposal until December 30 - some 23 days after the application was submitted.

This prevented comments being made on the application online, however, objection letters were still recieved, and considered.

All objection comments came from nearby flats, with each raising concerns about "the huge blank grey building" which they say will now obstruct the view from their flats and shade it from sunlight.

They all reference that this will "devalue" their property - with on suggesting a more sympathetic design should have been considered.

However, this had no bearing on North Ayrshire Council's decision, as the development was ultimately given the green light.

There are conditions attached to approval, though none of these will greatly affect the aesthetics of the building.

Plans were submitted to North Ayrshire Council on December 7, before being approved on February 3.

They can be viewed in full via the council's online planning portal, searching for reference 22/00950/PP.