Homes will ‘enhance’ area
Firm wants to develop near hospice
02.03.2018 Houses could be built on greenbelt land near St Vincent’s Hospice under new proposals.
Blackdye Limited wants to erect nine houses in the countryside between the centre at a primary school.
The firm insists more three, four and five- bedroom homes will “enhance” the Howwood area.
Bosses say works could take up to four years to complete and outlined their project in a report submitted with planners.
It stated: “The site lies to the southeast of Beith Road, largely within but on the boundary of the green belt.
“The land has been used as private amenity land associated with the adjacent dwelling house for turning out and grazing of horses for in excess of twenty years.
“Recent residential development has taken place on sites to the northwest and northeast of the application site.
“The scale and mix of the proposed development has been designed to match that of the recently completed Fordbank residential development and will comprise a mix of three, four and five-bedroom houses.
“The development proposed will provide a definitive boundary between the edge of Johnstone and the open amenity land and the country side beyond.”
The housebuilder has revealed plans to build more footpaths and roads connecting the mooted estate to the network.
C& S Architects has lodged blueprints for the project with Renfrewshire Council.
The plot sits behind St Anthony’s Primary and overlooks the neighbouring playing field.
Green belt land is secured by government in order to halt “urban sprawl” into the countryside.
Swathes are often home to protected wildlife, including bats, badgers, birds and plants.
Neighbours will be given their say on the scheme during a month-long consultation period.
The report added: “The recent residential developments on the adjacent housing sites comprise largely detached two-storey, pitchedroof housing, of a mixed size and style, with rendered or facing brick walls.
“The proposed development will echo the design, layout, density and mix of the adjacent housing using contemporary materials in a sustainable manner. It will remain wholly domestic in scale and appearance and will fit in with the aesthetic of the surrounding area.
“A simple non-intrusive junction will be formed onto Beith Road from the application site which will in no way disrupt existing traffic flows.
“The proposal will improve access by creating a grassed verge to Beith Road and a public footpath along the frontage of the site linking up with the existing footpaths in the adjacent Scholars Gate site.
“The existing streets, footpaths and open spaces will remain largely unaffected by the proposal other than the creation of the new access road from Beith Road.”
A decision on the proposals is expected next month.