Community councillors have agreed to approve superpub giants JD Wetherspoon’s resubmitted plans for a town centre premises.

North Ayrshire Council planners had refused the company’s original planning application, citing the inclusion of an outside drinking terrace on Gallowgate Street, the design of refuse storage and the repositioning of a nearby bus shelter.

The new application removed the problematic Gallowgate Street terrace completely and redesigned the refuse storage. The new plans have also redesigned the internal layout, including the introduction of a small first floor area above a storage room, with offices and a ‘plant’ area overlooking the main ground floor.

The council’s planning department had received 115 letters of objection to the original application along with 15 representations of support. Representations relating to the new plan will be taken by the council until February.

Issues cited by objectors included ‘ruining the identity and character of Largs as home of independent pubs, cafes and shops’ and ‘excessive opening hours’. These were considered to be either acceptable or matters which are not dealt with by planners.

In its assessment of the original planning application, the council did accept there were significant issues with the planned outdoor seating area. Transport Scotland objected to the proposed development on the grounds of pedestrian safety and the need to move the existing bus shelter.

Planners also questioned the original design of the refuse storage area, which was not in keeping with the design and appearance of the existing building.

Officials did note they had received support for the project. Backers stated that a new pub would ‘encourage competition and raise the standards of existing businesses’ and ‘the proposed development would inject much needed investment into the town centre and would be beneficial to residents and visitors to the town’.

The company say the pub would create 15 full-time and 35 part-time jobs.