Waitrose has secured planning consent for a new supermarket in Ayr after Councillors on South Ayrshire Council approved the scheme, thereby overturning their own officers' recommendation for a refusal.

It will be built on land beside the Holmston Roundabout next to Dobbies Garden Centre, will bring around 180 new jobs when it opens in early 2016. Councillors accepted arguments put forward by the developers, Dawn Developments Ltd, the scheme would bring benefits to the area, voting 17 to 5 in favour.

Mark Gifford, head of retail operations for Waitrose said: "We are delighted that councillors share our confidence that the major investment in a new store will make a positive contribution to Ayr and deliver significant benefits, including new employment opportunities and more choice for local residents.

"There is a feeling that Ayr is a town very much on the up and we are excited to be part of that."

Waitrose currently has two branches in Edinburgh (Comely Bank and Morningside); Byres Road Glasgow; Newton Mearns; Stirling; Helensburgh.

The retailer, part of the John Lewis Partnership, said it also hopes to lodge a planning application for another branch in Edinburgh at Corstorphine before the end of the year.