Plans to turn a disused toilet block in Ayr into a hot food takeaway have been given the green light.

South Ayrshire Council (SAC) had applied for planning permission to repurpose the former loos at the corner of the Low Green Esplanade and Blackburn Drive.

The application sought a 'change of use' of a former public convenience building to a hot food takeaway, with an ancillary external seating area.

The council is planning to lease the former toilets to a local business to create a café kiosk, after the building was declared surplus to the authority's requirements.

The Ayr Common Good Fund would benefit from the annual rent paid over the 25-year lease. 

Two objections had been lodged, one relating to the use of common good land for the proposed bin storage area and one around the maintenance of access for wheelchairs and prams to the rear of the building.

However, South Ayrshire Council's planning committee has now approved the plans.

Planning documents state: "It is noted that the building is located along Ayr seafront, which is an area visited by both tourists to South Ayrshire, and local residents.

"As such, there are other food and drink with retail kiosks/restaurant/cafes within this locale, to both the north and south of the application site, which service both local residents and tourists throughout the year.

"It is also acknowledged that hot food takeaway uses are ordinarily directed towards town centre areas.

"However, considering the proposed use of the building, while bringing a vacant building back into use, would add to the existing food and drink and associated retail offering in the nearby area, therefore also improving tourist facilities at this locale, it is not considered that this location is inappropriate for the use proposed, in this instance."