Sunnyside Hospital redevelopment plans move a step forward

Montrose: 500 new homes could be built on site of former asylum

Developers have successfully cleared the first hurdle in the redevelopment bid for the site of Scotland’s oldest asylum which could eventually be the setting for more than 500 new homes.

At a meeting in Forfar, Angus development standards committee councillors unanimously backed the conditional approval recommendation for permission in principle relating to the massive Sunnyside Hospital project to the north of Montrose.

The green light was described as a “positive, albeit baby step forward” for the multi-million-pound project, but with an early marker put down in some quarters over the hope that the scheme will see as many of Sunnyside’s listed buildings as possible retained.

SNP councillor Bill Duff, who sits on the committee, was enthusiastic in his welcome for a plan he described as “a complex project not without significant challenges”.

“I very much welcome this application. I note phasing plans allowing 265 houses to 2026, which complies with the local plan .

“Personally, I am comfortable with the developer’s target of 500 houses, as this will be a long-term project and the population growth will be gradual and dictated by market demand.”

Arbroath West and Letham Liberal Democrat Richard Moore expressed the hope applicant Sunnyside Estate would retain and re-use all 12 of the listed buildings on the expansive site but councillors heard an application for the demolition of the former Booth House nurses’ home has already been lodged and will be considered separately later.

Mr Duff added: “I would sincerely hope we remain pragmatic about this aspect; the project must be viable for the developer and I trust Historic Environment Scotland can agree a common sense compromise with the developer and Angus Council.”

The empty Sunnyside buildings have become a magnet for unwanted visitors, especially so-called ghost hunters.

Jamie Pert, joint managing director of Pert Bruce Construction, said the firm was keen to progress development and avoid a “Strathmartine situation”, in reference to the former hospital on the outskirts of Dundee blighted by vandalism and fire-raising over a number of years.

gbrown@thecourier.co.uk

SNP Councillor Bill Duff welcomed the “complex project”.