THE taste of the Middle East looks set to come to Saltcoats after plans for a new hot food takeaway were approved.

The application was submitted at the end of May, and looked to change the use of a vacant property on Adams Avenue.

The plans, which were submitted to North Ayrshire Council on behalf of Mr Salman Ijaz, will see a vacant unit - most recently used as a hair and tanning studio - transformed to create the new eatery.

The proposals described the establishment as "a hot food shawarma takeaway offering healthy Middle Eastern cooking, wraps and sandwiches".

Documents submitted alongside the formal planning application say the business will result in the creation of two full-time jobs as well as one part-time post.

The premises, which are within walking distance of St Matthew's Academy, would open seven days a week, from 11am until 6pm.

The council have told the applicant that they will have to stick strictly to these hours.

With plans now approved, the applicant hopes the opening of the premises will breathe new life into the area.

A supporting statement pointed out that three of the seven commercial units on that stretch of Adams Avenue are currently lying empty, and said the applicant hopes to "rectify this long-term vacancy issue".

The statement added: "It is much better to have premises which are open, trading and adding to the diverse offering to the public rather than boarded up premises with ‘To Let’ signs which create the impression of economic decline and mitigate against the ‘sense of a successful place'."

Addressing potential concern over the release of odours from the business, which is planned to be set up next door to the fish and chip shop The Fryer, the supporting statement says a "high quality commercial recirculation unit", typically used in malls and airports, will be installed.

It also says there will be "very little waste" from the takeaway, and that no food waste will be stored outwith the premises.

The application was submitted to North Ayrshire Council in late May and was approved early last week.

Plans can still be viewed in full via the council's online planning portal, searching for reference 23/00356/PP.