New shops could be built on an Irvine town centre site originally earmarked for housing.
A planning application has been lodged with North Ayrshire Council for the erection of nine commercial units on vacant land in Kirk Vennel.
Applicant Kerr Duff was previously granted permission to construct three houses at the 1600 square metre former builders' yard site.
Now he's asking council chiefs to rubber stamp a fresh proposal that could see the area - near the historic Irvine Old Parish Churchyard - given a new lease of life.
A planning support statement issued by agent Stephen McQuiston on Mr Duff's behalf said: "It is the intension of my client to put forward uses that are supported by the North Ayrshire Planning department.
"He has intimated that the units should be used for light industrial /commercial businesses or storage businesses.
"The units will not be used by businesses that will generate noise in their processes. Businesses like hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons will not be considered for these new units.
"He has also intimated that shops for retail would be considered. For example, a curtain and blind shop, a carpet shop etc.
"There is the possibility of the units being a mixture of the above and storage use. The storage would be something like storage of materials for builders, or any product that a retail unit would need to store their goods.
"It would be made very clear that where the unit was to be used as a storage unit for materials that a builder would use, they cannot work from this unit.
"The hours of operation for all the units would be realistically 9am till 5pm."
The planning application also states: "My client didn't know if houses here would be the way forward and decided to go for commercial units.
"We had discussed this back and forward with NAC and were told that if we could put forward satisfactory type of commercial properties here it would be supported by the council."
Planners will rule on the matter in due course.
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