A controversial planning application for a development in a conservation area of Arran has been knocked back again by councillors.

Wednesday’s meeting of the North Ayrshire Local Review Body was asked to re-consider the decision to refuse planning permission for a replacement two-storey building on a site currently occupied by Johnston’s Marine Stores in Lamlash.

The current single-storey building is within a conservation area.

A separate application for conservation area consent was submitted, seeking authorisation for the complete demolition of the existing building on the site,

The proposed building would have comprised a ground floor workshop and shop, having a flat roof some 3.3 metres high, with a residential flat and roof terrace above. 

The off-set pitched roof over the flat would then be 6.9m high at the ridge, which an officer said was contrary to the policy of preserving and enhancing conservation areas in North Ayrshire.

It is a statutory duty for an application to meet conservation requirements.

The applicant argued that the pier was of a different character to residential areas as it was a working environment.

However the North Ayrshire Council planning officer dealing with the application said the proposal was "piecemeal", and was also contrary to flood risk management policy.

The development, the officer said, was in an area prone to flooding, with development in such areas only considered when "essential infrastructure" is involved and if the area was needed for operational reasons.

Arran councillor Timothy Billings said the listed building had something of a “maritime feel”, and said he believed the proposed development would “not necessarily maintain that feel”.

He said that, given it was in a conservation area, he came down on the side of officers.

A motion by Cllr Billings to reject the application was passed unanimously by the other members of the review body.