East Ayrshire Council planning officers have granted conditional permission to expand an existing wetland basin at RSPB Airds Moss Nature Reserve, around seven kilometres south‑west of Muirkirk. The decision allows an extension to habitat previously approved in 2023, increasing the wetland area by approximately 0.35 hectares through targeted engineering works.
Planning conditions to protect nearby protected areas
Planners say the proposed works will support local biodiversity by creating extra habitat and improving foraging opportunities for ground‑nesting and wading birds. The site lies adjacent to both the Muirkirk Uplands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area (SPA), and that proximity required a detailed ecological appraisal before permission could be issued.
Statutory nature agency NatureScot did not raise a formal objection but set out conditions aimed at protecting hen harriers that use the nearby SPA. Among the agency’s recommendations were restrictions on the timing of works when they occur within 750 metres of a hen harrier roost: operations must not be carried out overnight or within two hours of sunrise or sunset.
Surveys and seasonal limits to reduce disturbance
Council officers have proposed planning conditions that will require ecological surveys to be completed before construction begins. Work will also be limited during the bird breeding season to minimise disturbance to nesting birds and other protected species recorded in the area, including water voles, badgers and otters.
- Extension size: ~0.35 hectares added to previously approved wetland
- Location: ~7km south‑west of Muirkirk, adjacent to SSSI and SPA designations
- Timing restrictions: measures advised within 750m of hen harrier roosts
No objections or letters of support from members of the public were recorded on the planning file. Officers described the scheme as a nature‑based solution that enhances biodiversity while protecting internationally important wildlife interests through the imposition of planning conditions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Approved increase | About 0.35 hectares |
| Distance from Muirkirk | Approx. 7 km south‑west |
| Nearby protected areas | Muirkirk Uplands SSSI; Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands SPA |
Local residents and visitors with an interest in the project should be aware that further ecological surveys and the imposition of timing conditions mean that visible groundworks may be staged to avoid sensitive periods for wildlife. The approval highlights the balance planning authorities are seeking between habitat creation and safeguarding designated nature conservation sites.
