Eglinton Country Park life for flat buyers

Jul 3 2009 by Lex Brown, Irvine Herald

LONG-AWAITED plans to create countryside housing in Eglinton Country Park have cleared the final hurdle.

North Ayrshire planners have given the go-ahead to convert the historic stable block into flats and build 24 houses on the site of the former Wilson food factory.

Eglinton Leisure will incorporate parking and minor roadworks in the development.

The stable block is a B listed building dating back to the early part of the 19th century.

It became the focal point of the Wilson food factory in the 1950s with various extensions added until closure more than 10 years ago.

Since the closure of the factory the stables and other buildings have been abandoned and become increasingly derelict.

The council prepared a development brief in 2004 and said they would accept residential use as one of six options for the building. An original planning application in May 2008 was for 12 flats along with 50 new houses.

This was subsequently reduced to 24 new houses.

There were 18 objections to the latest proposals, including the Promoting Kilwinning community group.

Objectors were opposed to the large number of houses, extra traffic, lighting and noise affecting habitats within the park and they claimed the development could set a precedent.

They also suggested there was charitable money available to restore the stable building to its original condition.

It was also claimed park visitors would lose parking spaces.

But planners overruled the objections and this week gave the go-ahead.

But they did impose a lengthy list of 19 conditions to ensure the overall amenity of the area and to secure the interest of park visitors.