DETAILED plans for 25 new 'affordable' homes in a commuter village near Ayr have been lodged with council officials.

The site in Tarbolton, seven miles from the town, was granted full planning permission by South Ayrshire Council last year for a total of 90 homes.

Of those, 65 will be privately owned.

Now a separate development at the same location will provide social housing ranging from two bedroom bungalows to four bedroom semi detached villas, including one designed for wheelchair use.

The application, by Mauchline-based Hayhill Developments, says the 25 new homes on a site off Croft Street will help meet the current demand for affordable housing in the South Ayrshire Council area.

Once completed it's expected that the houses will be transferred to Ayrshire Housing Association for day to day management,

The planning application adds:"The house types proposed have been specifically designed to complement the proposed new development with materials to match.

"This will ensure no obvious distinctions between private housing and affordable units.

"The residential greens and formal play area will also be shared by all occupants in the development.

"All the affordable houses will have a private rear garden and canopies over front entrance doors

"The proposed site layout will deliver a high quality development."

Hayhill also say that the new homes will be easily accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,

In their application they describe Tarbolton as a popular village with local employment opportunities and ideally placed for convenient commuting to Ayr, Kilmarnock and the wider central belt.

It adds:"Tarbolton offers a number of existing facilities within easy travel distance of the site including local shops, recreation, education, religious and community facilities."

When plans by Hayhill Developments for the 90 houses were first submitted last year, six local people objected raising concerns over noise, the impact on wildlife, the loss of green space, and traffic and flooding issues.

There were also concerns raised that the village may not be able to cope with 90 new home given that the GP surgery and post office had just closed.

However councillors accepted a recommendation from their planning officials that the application be approved.