An appeal over plans to build three new luxury homes near Mauchline has been thrown out by East Ayrshire councillors.

The decision comes after officials from the local authority turned down an application for a trio of seven-bedroom homes at the Ballochmyle development between Mauchline and Catrine.

It was the second time East Ayrshire Council (EAC) officers had rejected an application by Mr I. Ahmed, of Darnley, Glasgow, for a development on the site.

The second application came after a previous proposal was turned down because of concern at the scale, massing, proportions and detailing of the proposed homes.

However, EAC officials said that the 'refreshed' proposals were still not in line with criteria in the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework, or with policies in the council's own local development plan.

READ MORE: Seven-bedroom homes on luxury estate near Mauchline refused

Mr Ahmed then appealed the council's decision to refuse the resubmitted application.

His agent also provided a statement making the case for overturning the refusal, largely focussing on his client’s role as an employer in East Ayrshire, the proximity to the Ballochmyle Estate, and reported goodwill from the local community.

It said: “Mr Ahmed wants to invest more money into the local area and provide a setting for his family to live in the area, close by their current businesses.

“There was no negative feedback at all.

"We seek your approval to overturn the planning officer’s recent refusal of this application.”

An EAC 'local review body' (LRB), formed of councillors Graham Barton (SNP, Kilmarnock East and Hurlford), John McGhee (Labour, Annick), William Crawford (Labour, Cumnock and New Cumnock) and Neill Watts (Conservative, Cumnock and New Cumnock), found that there was no reason to consider that the application complied with local and government frameworks.

As a result, the LRB determined that the application be refused and the appeal dismissed.