Builder blasted for jumping the gun
Anger as Persimmon homes break rules
A housing giant has been slammed for erecting a ‘ Coming Soon’ sign despite having no permission for the development.
A large hoarding was put up on the side of the busy A77 to lure buyers to the new “Fairfields” housing estate on the edge of Monkton.
And Persimmon’s website already calls it an “exciting new development” where people can choose from “stunning two, three, four and five bedroom homes.”
But the recently formed Monkton Community Council says the firm is completely premature.
Now they are likely to have to dismantle the hoarding which was put up illegally without permission.
Harry Middleditch, community council chairman said: “I think we are under siege by the scale of this development and we are concerned.
“The last three developments in the village have been of 57, 60 and 25 houses.
“There are only 467 houses in the village and they want another 297.
“Under a future separate application for the MOD land at Gannet we are facing hundreds more.
“Even after that we fear more housing will be built on the fields up to the cemetery.”
Persimmon bought the 99- acre site from Dawn Homes and went on a charm offensive a year ago with a display in the village church hall.
They want to build 297 houses on 35 acres and insist the historic windmill, dovecote and an ancient underground working known as the Whiteside Enclosure will all be protected.
It was in August they lodged the application with South Ayrshire Council and it has attracted wide objections.
The sign does say, in much smaller letters which drivers are less able to see, it is “subject to planning.”
But chairman Middleditch added: “They have certainly put the cart before the horse.”
John Hamilton, compliance supervisor for South Ayrshire Council, confirmed the planning application has not been determined.
He added: “The signage is being displayed without the benefit of Advertisement Consent under the terms of the Town and Country Planning ( Control of Advertisements) ( Scotland) Regulations 1984 and this matter has been raised with the house builder.”
A Persimmon Homes West Scotland defended the sign erection, but admitted they had done so without permission.
A spokeswoman said: “We erected the ‘ Coming Soon’ sign to promote our proposed new development of private and affordable homes in Monkton.
“The sign clearly states that this is subject to planning consent of our detailed planning application submitted in August this year.
“A retrospective application for planning consent will be submitted for the sign in due course.”