CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a luxury 60-bedroom care home in Prestwick have been given the green light.

A total of 52 objections were submitted to South Ayrshire Council planners over the plans by Northcare Scotland Ltd to build the care home on land at Fairway View, formerly owned by Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club.

The vast majority were concerned about road safety caused by additional traffic, the suitability of the roads being used to access the premises and fears that difficulties parking will be exacerbated.

The site is allocated for housing under the council’s own development plan, and the initial proposals included 22 assisted living units.

However, the applicant removed that element and opted to include a café in the proposals.

This led to objectors arguing that vital housing space would be lost, at a time when there were 1,000 people on a waiting list for a house in the town.

The proposals include 33 parking spaces – which officers stated was the maximum number, calculated as one space per staff member and one space per three beds.

Councillors voted to make a site visit prior to a decision being taken, after council officers recommended that the development be approved. 

Decision documents state: "There are no concerns regarding the physical proposals, subject to appropriate conditions being attached to any permission.

"Consultation responses do not raise any over-riding issues, and appropriate conditions can be attached to meet with the advice and requirements of consultees.

"For the reasons noted in this report, the proposal is considered to represent a suitable form of sustainable development, in an appropriate and sustainable location."