Decision in new year on plan for homes

APPROVAL to demolish a former community centre and replace it with affordable homes will be sought at the first Angus Council meeting of the new year.

The Damacre Centre in Brechin closed early in 2016 following the opening of the £26 million community campus in the town.

Earlier this year, the council declared the Damacre Road building surplus to requirements and the site, which was valued at £100,000, was transferred to the housing revenue account for affordable housing.

On January 4, the council’s development standards committee will consider a proposal that would involve building a terrace of four two-storey homes facing Damacre Road and three two-storey semi-detached blocks to provide six dwellings off Wilson’s Park.

The plans, which have been recommended for conditional approval, would lead to the creation of one four-bedroom, seven three-bedroom and two two-bedroom homes.

A total of 19 letters of objection have been received in relation to the plans.

Concerns raised include the loss of a historic building, the adverse impact on existing residential amenity and it being an unsympathetic development in terms of design which would be in close proximity to the conservation area.

In his report to councillors, head of housing, regulatory and protective services Stewart Ball said the development would not have unacceptable impact on the amenity and privacy of occupants of nearby properties. He added: “The traditional building is not unattractive but it has been the subject of fairly extensive alteration and is of no significant architectural or historic interest.”

Mr Ball recommends that conditions relating to landscaping, surface water and road layout are attached to the planning permission.