Green space looks set for makeover

Native trees and plants will put down roots

Plans to revamp green space in Newton Farm have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Developers Taylor Wimpey are set to reprofile and replant an area of rough terrain behind Mitchell Avenue, Westburn, Cambuslang, after South Lanarkshire Council’s (SLC) planning committee agreed to the proposals on Tuesday, August 10.

Soil removed from two sites currently being developed by Taylor Wimpey in the Newton Farm Community Growth Area (CGA) will be used to reprofile the site before native trees and plants are brought in.

A footpath will be formed on the eastern side of the site but no formal path will go across the site.

Planning and building standards manager Tina Meikle said a number of residents felt the site should “remain untouched” and 53 objections were submitted.

However, the area is not “something that is commonly used” and that it is “quite rough terrain” so the “additional planting would be of benefit”.

Ms Meikle added: “The site is currently an area of open space within the Community Growth Area.

“The applicants, Taylor Wimpey, are proposing to regrade and remodel the landscape of this existing open space area.

“They will be using topsoil from two of the housing sites they are developing within Newton.

“The works would include the regrading, raising the profile of the site slightly and replanting.

“There would be a mixture of native trees such as alder, birch and hazel together with plants such as hawthorn, aspen and blackthorn. Some of the trees on site will remain.

“The site is identified as open space in the CGA and would remain as such.

“We do have an objection from Halfway Community Council on the basis that the proposal involves substantial amounts of soil to the site that’s not part of the masterplan.

“In terms of it not being part of the masterplan, the proposal to reprofile the site is not but the open space is there at the moment and will remain there.

“We did get a report from an ecologist and the conclusion there was that there were no issues of any concern.

“They also commented it would increase the quality of the open space with new native species while protecting the flora and fauna there.”