Storage site plan approved

Burnbank residents are unhappy over retrospective plans for a commercial storage facility which has been operating for years on a former building supplies site.

Seven householders neighbouring the 7 Birdsfield Street site, previously occupied by Noel Kegg Ltd, had objected to The Storage Zone’s proposal for a single-storey storage facility and the installation of floodlighting and security fencing. The business runs seven days per week and the applicant’s supporting statement indicates they wish to operate from 7am to 9pm.

Concerns raised with planners included noise and disturbance, parking and privacy, but South Lanarkshire’s planning committee approved the detailed plans this week.

Planning chief Michael Mcglynn told councillors: “While it would appear that a storage facility has operated at this location for a number of years, it is confirmed that there is scope within planning legislation to apply for retrospective planning permission.

“It is also, as highlighted above, permissible under the Town and Country Planning (general permitted development order) (Scotland) for the change of use from the previous industrial use to a use for storage and distribution purposes.

“However, there is a restriction on the maximum floorspace allowed under these rights. It is the intensification of the operation that results in the need for planning approval in this instance.

“The council considers that the applicant’s operation of the business without appropriate approval was done in ignorance of current planning requirements and was not in an effort to circumvent the planning process.” Mr Mcglynn also pointed out that the third party representations received were not “of signficant weight” to warrant the refusal of the proposal.

He added that the scheme accorded with policies in the adopted South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan and supplementary guidance and raised “no significant concerns in terms of road and public safety or amenity.”