Housing boomtime
Green light for Peel Park proposal
A new £15million private housing development at Peel Park has been given the green light – with plans for a £40m retail park remaining in the pipeline.
A proposal by developers London & Scottish Investments to build 89 family homes on five acres of derelict land at Redwood Crescent was approved by South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee.
House builders Balfour Beatty will construct 67 properties for private sale and 22 on-site affordable houses.
Development director Bryan Wilson said: “I am delighted that this development has been granted planning permission for several reasons.
“The first is that it will provide a really good mix of family homes for sale and affordable homes, managed by the local housing association, for those with social needs.
“I am also delighted to see this site being transformed from derelict, non-productive land to an area making a significant contribution to East Kilbride’s prosperity and amenities.”
Building work is set to start before the end of the year. The affordable homes will be delivered as a single early phase with the private homes expected to be completed in the next two years. It is intended that ownership will be transferred to East Kilbride Housing Association (EKHA). London & Scottish Investments also revealed plans to invest a further £40m into the remaining land at Peel Park to develop a “thriving” retail park on the former Tesco/Dobbies proposal site. But there are fears that another outof-town retail development could harm the town centre. “We very much hope this will be a first step for Peel Park,” Mr Wilson added. “We are currently in talks with South Lanarkshire Council over our plans to develop the remainder of Peel Park as a new retail park which could provide a major boost to the local economy, without impacting on the town centre.”
Central Scotland Tory MSP Graham Simpson welcomed more affordable housing – but he has urged the council to “get it right” when considering future plans for an associated retail development.
He said: “I am pleased to see the housing development has been approved and that there will be affordable housing.
“The retail application is far more complicated.
“Councillors will need to be satisfied that there will be no adverse impact on the town centre.
“I have said before that the council has not covered itself in glory on Peel Park. It must get it right now.”
South Lanarkshire Council confirmed that the housing application was passed by councillors as per the recommendation, adding that the retail development proposal will be considered as a separate entity.
It will provide a good mix of family homes for sale and affordable housing.