Plans to reopen boarding kennels near West Kilbride have been given the green light by North Ayrshire Council.

The owners of Stay and Play Boarding at Thirdpart Kennels had applied for a certificate of lawfulness for the business, which has now been granted.

The premises operated as kennels between 1992 and 2021, but closed when the property was taken over by a new owner.

The facility includes eight kennels with interior and exterior runs, a separate kitchen and isolation room.

The applicant said: “It has been our intention to reopen but we required financial stability before we could proceed. We have managed that with a new business plan.”

Planning case officer Iain Davies said: "The current owner, whilst not operating the kennels, has kept the land set up for such a use and there has been no intervening use of the site.

"It is therefore considered the use has not been abandoned. Given all of the above, the use of the application site as kennels is considered to be lawful and a Certificate of Lawfulness can be issued."