Proposals for housing development altered

Proposals for a new social housing development in Chapelhall have been altered to reduce the number of properties.

North Lanarkshire Council is working on designs for the development at Gibb Street, with the plans now showing 25 flats on what is currently an area of open space.

The original plan had been to construct 41 houses and flats, with the former ranging from detached to terraced; but council officials say the new design now under consideration is felt to be more suitable for the area.

Gibb Street was first added to the authority’s housebuilding programme in May 2020, as part of wider plans to construct 5000 council homes by 2035, with the first version of the planning application being submitted last October.

However, online documents now show an amended site layout consisting of five buildings comprising a mixture of cottage flat and shared-entry properties and with two being built to fully wheelchair-accessible standards.

Drawings also show the existing play area remaining in place, along with new tree planting and a “green corridor” footpath.

A council spokesperson told the Advertiser: “The original planning application proposed 41 mixed dwelling units, but this was reduced following discussions with the local housing office and planning service.

“It was considered that the revised proposal for 25 units would better meet local housing needs and be more in keeping with the housing density of the area.

“The block of flats features a communal lift servicing all homes, and the groundfloor cottage flats also provide level access throughout.

“All homes are designed for a range of needs and can be easily adapted to meet specific tenant requirements.”

A planning statement first prepared in relation to the original 41-home development said: “There is an identified need for social housing in the Chapelhall area, in particular residential properties suitable for residents with wheelchair requirements.”

It adds that there would be a new access road from Gibb Street, “no impact on the existing multi-use games area and equipped play park”; and that the new energy-efficient homes could reduce householders’ fuel bills to “a third of their current figure, which contributes to the council’s aim to tackle fuel poverty and contribute to meeting climate change targets”.

The revised application is currently being considered and could be determined by autumn, with construction anticipated to take around a year.

Plans A total of 25 flats are proposed for the site at Gibb Street in Chapelhall