Builders to save historic Monkton
But they want to put 277 new homes on farmland
Villagers have seen for the first time plans for a giant new housing estate.
Housebuilder Persimmon has now snapped up the land in Monkton, revealing they want to build 277 homes.
The houses - from two to five bedrooms - will take up about 30 acres of their 99- acre landholding.
About 70 homes, 25% of the total, will be classed as affordable.
The plans were shown at the village church hall on Thursday as a “preplanning” application before it is submitted to South Ayrshire Council.
Only then will villagers get the chance then to lodge any objections.
The original application for the site was Dawn Homes, but it is Persimmon who are now behind the project.
Persimmon insists the historic windmill, dovecote and an ancient underground working known as the Whiteside Enclosure will all be protected.
And a spokesman, referring to the plan published here, said they had agreed to change the estate entry from Kilmarnock Road to skirt round the edge of the landholding.
He said: “We have spoken to Historic Environment Scotland and the road will be different from our map.
“The road will be on the west of the site and no longer separate the two historic monuments.
“Our plans protect the high ground, which will remain farmland.”
A second entry road is also planned off Tarbolton Road so people can drive through the estate without having to go through the village cross.
Villager Stephen Emley attended the display and said: “I have advised my local councillors I felt they should have been in attendance for such a big issue.
“As we have no community council, our local councillors have excluded the village from the monthly surgeries that were held in Monkton.
“While not against the plans I believe I have some valid concerns about a further development, especially after Spirit announced another 100 jobs which require the employees to travel through Monkton.”
Should it get the go- ahead the population will increase from 1140 to about 2000.