Homes bid booted out
Plans for a huge housing development on the grounds of the former Cleland Hospital site have been rejected again.
Persimmon Homes first formally lodged proposals for an 86-house development with North Lanarkshire Council 18 months ago.
Approval would have seen a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, ranging from two to four bedrooms, at a site comprising most of the grounds of the former Cleland Hospital.
Despite council officers recommending approval and Persimmon Homes making adjustments to their plans, the housing proposals thrown out at a recent meeting of the council’s planning committee.
Twelve representations were made to the council, including objections from Cleland Community Council and neighbouring householders.
Councillor Louise Roarty, whose ward covers the former Cleland Hospital site, is not a member of the planning committee but attended the meeting.
She said:“The developer has the option to appeal to the Scottish Reporter, but the right decision was made in my opinion.
“My view all along centred around safety concerns for traffic and pedestrians on Bellside Road where the entrance to the development would have been.
“These concerns were shared by objectors, who also spoke out about the potential loss of mature trees, the majority of which are over 100 years old.
“I believe an application is now being made for a tree preservation order.”
A variety of reasons for rejecting the development were put forward by objectors.
These included claims that the site is not zoned for housing and is used informally by local people as an open space, which is also a wildlife habitat.
There are also concerns about road safety and other traffic problems on Bellside Road which is narrow and dangerous due to HGVs, and on-street parking.
While Persimmon also made changes to its plans to ensure fewer trees would be felled, this was not enough to convince planners.