A new plan has been lodged with North Ayrshire Council concerning the demolition of Rose Cottage at Portencross and the erection of four new cottages, and a replacement dwelling.
The proposed development, by David and Gordon Wright, includes Rose Cottage, and the grounds of the house known as ‘The Stables’, but some local residents have objected.
The Wright family have resided in Portencross for over 70 years and Rose Cottage has gone into decay, and it is their intention to provide a replacement of a similar stature.
The applicants state that the surrounding grounds are too large to maintain properly, and propose four cottages of ‘traditional character, blending in with the existing housing’ and with ‘energy efficient design’ including thermal insulation.
The demolition of the existing dwelling house of Rose Cottage and the erection of a new replacement dwelling house, and looks to replicate the scale and character of the existing building and is a mix of 2 storey, 1.5 storey and single storey elements.
Consideration has been given to immediately adjacent properties to reduce the impact of the new houses on privacy, views, etc, say the developers.
The two semi-detached cottages are single storey with attic development. The other two cottages are one and a half storey. 
The applicants: “Although the finishes to the houses are consistent, the houses have individual characteristics which set them apart and this together with the siting achieve to give a sense of informality.”
However, Portencross resident Audrey Kolon is one of the objectors to the development. She said: “An original application for Rose Cottage in the summer was made, but there were a number of objections and withdrawn.
“Four new builds in the garden plus the demolition of old Rose Cottage seems a bit of an overkill, and there are also sewage concerns.
“It is also outwith the local development plan, and it will change Portencross forever with five new dwellings being built. The Scottish Government say they want sustainable growth and the carbon footprint to be less, but how can that be, as there are no services at Portencross, and you’d have to get in your car and go to West Kilbride.”
The applicants state that drainage would be by means of a treatment plant with outfall to a ground subsoil soakaway system to coastal waters, which would have to be registered with SEPA.