PLANS for a development of 'glamping pods' in Kilwinning have been knocked back for a second time.

Revised proposals were lodged with North Ayrshire Council for a site on the edge of Eglinton Country Park in October - almost exactly a year after similar plans, from the same applicant, were turned down.

The plans, by Stuart McLean and Susan Pearce, date back to August 2022 when an initial application for permission to build seven 'hobbit hut' pods on land next to Eglinton House, near Irvine Road, was submitted to the council - along with proposals for the applicants' own 'dream home'.

The proposals split local opinion - with almost 40 objections lodged along with 10 letters of support - but were turned down after a council official identified "considerable" grounds for refusal.

Mr McLean and Ms Pearce then came back with updated proposals in October of this year, saying they intended to put their life savings into the project.

The scaled back application still included seven glamping pods - four larger units with dining space, and three smaller pods with only room for a bed - but no longer featured proposals for a house or workshop.

The amended plans included nine parking spaces and associated footpaths - but again split public opinion, with 23 objections and 11 expressions of support.

But this application, too, has now been refused.

The council officer dealing with the case said in a handling report on the application: "The extent of tree loss and groundworks would result in the loss of the established woodland character of the site, and would therefore not represent a sustainable form of development.

"No justification [has] been provided to demonstrate that the economic benefits of the development would outweigh its adverse environmental impacts.

"There is no specific locational need for the development to be located on the site."

The handling report also said the application had given "no consideration" to the impact of the pods on Eglinton House itself.

The official who penned the report added: "The proposed tourism use on the site would be likely to result in adverse noise and disturbance, the effects of which would have a negative impact on the established amenity of the area and its residents.

"The woodland at Eglinton is within one of a limited number of nationally important Gardens and Designed Landscapes.

"It is considered that the proposed development would not be 'compatible with the uses, natural habitats, and character' of Eglinton Country Park as a result of woodland loss, habitat fragmentation, adverse amenity impacts and adverse impacts on the setting of a category B listed building."

The applicants now have three months to appeal the decision and ask for it to go before a 'local review body' of North Ayrshire councillors.