A new hot food takeaway could be coming to Prestwick — on the site of the former Laurence Hood Butchers.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that a planning application to turn the now vacant unit at The Cross has been submitted to South Ayrshire Council.
The plan involves a change of use to the former butchers, which operated on the same site for more than 100 years.
Earlier this year we told how proprietor Mr Hood was to hang up his apron for the final time after announcing his retirement, ending a 37-year trading association with the town he served with distinction.
It closed for the final time in July.
Now the unit at number 16 The Cross is being earmarked to form a hot-food takeaway — and to allow for the erection of a flue system.
Behind the plans are TSA Properties, who are represented on the planning proposals by Bennett Developments and Consulting.
Their planning statement says: “The proposed development is for the change of use of this vacant property into a hot food takeaway.
“Access will continue to be via the existing doorway though the frontage will be altered to feature a full height glass window with single door; replacing the existing double door.
“In addition the existing floor will be broken up and relaid to be level with the pavement thus avoiding the need for the existing ramp.
“This will lead directly into the customer area which will have a long servery on the left hand side.
“Further into the building there are storage areas, a food preparation area and a toilet.”
The applicants also promise a “state of the art” extraction system to ensure that the local surroundings are protected from “smells, odours and noise.”
It is anticipated that the operating hours for the takeaway would be Sunday to Thursday 10am to 11pm and Friday and Saturday 10am to 12 midnight.
The applicants also hope that the proposals will provide a welcome boost to local evening economy.
The planning statement says: “The proposed development will not only introduce a new hot food outlet but will involve the recycling of an existing vacant property, which if left vacant would have the potential to become a disamenity in the streetscape.
“In promoting this development the applicant was mindful of the potential impact which such a use can have on the local area and to those living and working nearby, in particular the potential for fumes and odours and the management of waste.
"To that end the proposal incorporates a number of measures which will ensure that there will be no impact on the amenity of the surrounding area.
“In addition the new use will contribute to the evening economy and in the winter months and dark evenings the splay of light from the new enlarged window area will illuminate the footpath and provide a safer and more secure environment which in turn will help to create a more appealing and welcoming streetscape.”
The proposals are on the South Ayrshire Council planning portal and listed as "pending consideration."
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