Green light for housing

Building on ex-school site

A boost for affordable housing in East Kilbride has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

South Lanarkshire Council plans to develop the former site of Heathery Knowe Primary School into 16 homes for social rent were approved at a meeting of the planning committee.

The site sits to the north of the new primary school building and adjoins the grass playground area and MUGA pitch.

It was surplus to the education service’s requirements after the new school and associated play areas and parking facilities were constructed.

The report to councillors stated the new homes will comprise of four two-storey semidetached properties and 12 cottage flats over three blocks and will cater for a broad mix of needs.

But East Kilbride Central South councillor Collette Stevenson revealed local parents have concerns about traffic.

East Kilbride Central South councillor Collette Stevenson told the News: “While I welcome the new homes for social housing, I recently attended parent council meetings for Heathery Knowe and St Louise primaries and there were some concerns about an increase in traffic on already heavily-congested roads.

“However, the council’s roads department will speak to the head teachers to try and make sure concerns over noise, health and safety issues and traffic control can be alleviated in some way.”

Cllr Stevenson added: “Nonetheless, there is a need for new houses in the town and the fact it’s social housing is all the better and the site is ideally placed for transport links to elsewhere in the town.”

One letter of objection and one letter of comment to the plans was submitted to the council. Work is planned to start this month with the first completions expected late next summer.

Councillor Josh Wilson, chair of housing and technical resources, said: “I welcome the planning committee’s approval of this muchneeded new council housing development in East Kilbride.

“This will be the fourth council new-build development in East Kilbride in two years, providing a total of 80 high-quality homes meeting a wide range of needs, in excellent locations close to local amenities.

“As with all our developments, the new homes at Heathery Knowe will meet the latest standards in energy efficiency saving tenants hundreds of pounds a year on fuel bills and helping to protect the environment.

“South Lanarkshire Council’s HOME+ programme has an ambitious target of delivering 1000 new council homes by 2021.

“This development along with the plans for 20 new homes in Blantyre approved at the same committee is another step towards that goal.”

There is a need for new houses in the town...