Pitch is staked
New development on old football parks
Plans for a housing development on former football parks have moved a step closer.
Dawn Developments want to transform the land between Kirkconnel Drive in Spittal and Croftfoot train station which has lain vacant for over 15 years.
The company initially lodged an application in April last year.
Four months ago we reported that the plan had been delayed but Dawn said they were confident any problems had been resolved and would press ahead.
They have now amended the plans currently lodged with South Lanarkshire Council.
The latest plans are for 94 houses as opposed to 100. They also include community space to the east of the site, bordering the Cityford Burn at Alloway Crescent, as well as drainage areas.
Among the documents lodged this month is an ecology report which concludes: “There will be minimal adverse impact on biodiversity from the loss of unexceptional habitats and it is anticipated there will be a biodiversity benefit as a consequence of habitat creation and diversification.”
When the plans were first lodged last June, four residents raised concerns ranging from increases in traffic, road safety, drainage and a loss of green space.
However, one letter also welcomed the plans as it would provide a children’s play area for Spittal.
No one at Dawn was available for comment this week but in April managing director Martin Egan said they hoped to have the first homes ready for occupation in the spring of 2017.
The site was initially bequeathed to the people of Croftfoot and King’s Park to be used in perpetuity for recreation by Sir John McTaggart in 1936. Campaigners from the Croftfoot Playing Fields Association fought to keep the area for recreational use, but in 2000 Lynnet Leisure bought the land with a view to building a sports facility.
Two football clubs, King’s Park Rangers and Croftfoot, were kicked off the pitches, with the former being forced to disband.
In 2004, South Lanarkshire Council approved outline plans for 98 houses and sold their portion of the land, although Lynnet Leisure failed to take up the option.
Money from the sale of the land was used to upgrade playing fields at Burnhill and Fernhill along with the construction of a synthetic seven-a-side pitch at Spittal Primary.