Road rage over new housing development

Residents claim incomers cause traffic congestion

House builders are under fire for sparking a traffic nightmare at a luxury new development.

Houston residents have criticised Barrat Homes subsidiary David Wilson for allowing families to move in to new homes at the site of former Merchiston Hospital, Brookfield, before an upgrade at a busy road junction.

The builder had requested a change in planning permission to allow the occupation of up to 50 properties before the completion of the works to the Barrochan Interchange.

However, council bosses knocked back the request amid fears of traffic snarl-ups in the area.

John McEvoy, chairman of Houston Community Council, said: “Barratt Homes, via their subsidiary David Wilson Homes, has sold houses for occupation on the site of the former Merchiston Hospital despite their application to Renfrewshire Council to vary the terms of their planning consent to allow them to do this being refused.

“The requested variation was to allow the occupation of up to 50 dwellings before the completion of the alterations to the Barrochan Interchange.

“Renfrewshire Council refused this request on the grounds that this action would generate additional traffic that would be detrimental to the wider area.

“This reason was in line with objections to the application submitted by Houston Community Council and others.” Mr McEvoy added that the new houses sit on the main commuter route out of the village of Houston, where residents “have been inconvenienced over many months by the shambolic nature of roadworks attached to the Barratt development”.

He explained: “This has added to the traffic problems endured by our residents since the occupants of the newly- sold houses are adding to the traffic congestion caused by the associated roadworks.”

However, the local authority said there would only be a “limited impact” after assessing the traffic situation.

Renfrewshire Council said: “We are aware that a small number of homes have been occupied in advance of the works to upgrade the Barrochan Interchange being completed, as is required as a condition of planning permissions.

“We have assessed the situation and decided that there will be limited impact to the local road network. The works at Barrochan Interchange are progressing as scheduled.

“We continue to monitor progress and anticipate no delays to completion.”

This has added to the traffic problems endured by residents John McEvoy