Approval for Daks site plans
Council give green light
The former Daks Simpson site could be developed into flats.
Paterson of Greenoakhill Ltd have submitted plans to South Lanarkshire Council for permission in principle to develop the site for residential use with landscaping and associated works.
The land, which is situated at the edge of Strutherhill Industrial Estate off Carlisle Road, is currently vacant and was previously occupied by the former Daks Simpson warehouse.
In a report to South Lanarkshire Council’s Planning Committee this week it was noted that the applicant “has agreed in principle to the provision of affordable housing on site or by way of a commuted sum in addition to a financial contribution for educational provision, to equate to the demand for school places arising from the proposed development”.
Planning officials therefore recommended that the application be granted permission in principle, subject to conditions, at a meeting held on Tuesday.
The report stated: “The site is irregular in shape and extends to approximately 7.5 hectares.
“The site is bounded to the north and east by open grassland, to the south by industrial buildings and to the west by a mixture of housing, a sewage works and Carlisle Road.
“A narrow corridor of land extends beyond the main area of the site and serves as the existing access route from Carlisle Road.”
It adds: “The proposal involves the re-use of a previously developed site which would have a positive impact on the built and natural environment.
“The proposal also promotes development in a sustainable location which would be accessible by public transport and well integrated into existing walking and cycling networks.”
Daks Simpson was once the biggest employer in the town. They began manufacturing in Scotland in 1941 and the Strutherhill plant in Larkhall was opened in 1948 by Harold Wilson, later to become Prime Minister.
Daks was a manufacturer for Marks & Spencer for 27 years until the contract was suddenly terminated in summer 2000, leading to 450 job losses.
And 60 years of top-quality clothing manufacturing at Daks came to end on March 1, 2002.
The company was one of the biggest employers in Lanarkshire and at is peak had a workforce of more than 1600.
The proposal promotes development