A modern £2.5 million crematorium just outside Largs has been given the green light.

Planners at North Ayrshire Council approved the plans for the new facility - which will be located near to the entrance to Kelburn Windfarm on the A760 Largs to Kilbirnie Road. Around 20 local jobs will be created during the construction of the building while there will be further staff hired to operate the crematorium.

Jeremy Hamilton, who operates Respect Crematoria, said that the company was developing Scotland’s ‘newest and environmentally advanced crematorium’ which will ‘offer local families from Largs, Cumbrae, Fairlie, Skelmorlie, West Kilbride, Kilbirnie and across the Garnock Valley and Clyde Coast, access to an increasingly needed and essential service within the local area’.

He added that the site was significantly closer and more conveniently located crematorium facility than the those currently useed at Greenock and Dreghorn.

The crematorium has been designed to focus on supporting bereaved families and features a 160-seat facility which will incorporate state-ofthe- art, environmentally advanced technology. Mr Hamilton said that the design is key, given the solemn nature of the proceedings and would be bright and inspiring, while maintaining the outlook of the local environment with a farmstead-style design, finished in local stone and natural wood.

The plans also include a number of ‘simple but important design innovations’, many of which were developed following consutlation with the public.

These include a large, open-plan and welcoming internal reception area, with capacity for up to 120-people, a reception area with large and modern WC facilities, full disabled access, as well as comfort and shelter for families and friends.

Extra capacity has also been provided to cope with exceptionally large services, with the ceremony hall connected to the reception area via digital audio and LED screens, on which services can be viewed.

Encrypted web-enabled technology will also allow those unable to attend a service, the option of viewing proceedings securely over the Internet - potentially from anywhere with web access. Mr Hamilton explained that the entire building and grounds were designed to help minimise and avoid funeral groups overlapping.

He also worked withClyde Muirshiel Regional Park, to draw-up plans which will ‘enhance and develop the bio-diversity of the surrounding landscape’.

Plans include the reintroduction of indigenous plant and tree species, the creation of scented wild flower areas and a remembrance garden set within sensitive landscaping, alongside the installation of water features and bird boxes designed to support local wildlife.

Other benefits to the local economy are expected, including increased trade for local hotels, restaurants, florists, landscape gardeners, general maintenance and memorial related service providers.

The proposal has been developed by Mr Hamilton, John Fraser and Jim Hamilton. Jeremy told the News: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured planning consent, and would like to thank the many local people, groups and organisations who have given their time and support over the past year.

“This will be an important facility for the local area and for local families, providing essential assistance at a time when help is most needed.

“It will be amongst the most environmentally advanced facilities in the country, incorporating state-of-the art technology, alongside a range of design features and improvements that local people said were important to them.

“Centrally and conveniently located for local families, the facility will significantly reduce the unacceptable and undignified distance and travel currently required to access the nearest crematorium facilities.” “We will now move forward with the process of developing the build details and construction programme, and will ensure that we keep the local community fully updated on progress.”