Plans for a 'grid stability facility' at the former Hunterston coal yard have been given the green light. 

The 'stability island', run by Highview Power, provides services to the electricity grid, and comprises a synchronous compensator and a flywheel. 

The site is around 131 metres by 147 metres, and would connect to the national grid through a nearby substation. 

A large building would enclose the main machinery, and would be around 13 metres in height. 

The plant and access road would be enclosed by a fence with a gatehouse in the south-west corner. 

Construction traffic is expected to amount to around four HGVs per day, with around 30 cars or vans associated with workers also travelling to and from the site.

Once operational, the site will only be visited around twice each week by maintenance workers.

One objection was received to the plans, which claimed that the noise report does not asses the impact on locations in Fairlie. 

However, North Ayrshire Council planners said: "The applicant confirmed that their noise modelling, which had used the international standard, showed the potential noise impact for properties above the level of the mounding to be low.

"The potential noise at those properties was found to be below the existing background level."