Planning amendment granted
The controversial housing development planned for Wemysshill Farm in Overtown was back on the agenda of North Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee on Thursday, January 28.
Developers, WD Hill and RT Hill, made an application to amend a condition of planning consent seeking permission to submit a site investigation report in phases.
Prior to the latest meeting, council officers had recommended that the planning committee grant permission allowing the developers to submit the report in stages.
The application was granted, after a vote. SNP councillor Fiona Fotheringham, who represents the Wishaw ward, moved to refuse the application, and that was seconded by her party colleague Cllr Lynne Anderson. But the motion was voted through, with 15 councillors voting to grant and eight to refuse.
The developers had previously sought an extension on a three-year window to implement “detailed planning matters”citing restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but this was refused.
Overtown and Waterloo Community Council chairman
Stuart Chidley previously claimed the site is“unviable”due to developers failing to reach agreement with the council on planning conditions relating to local education and transport funding.
The site at Castlehill Road extends to almost 70 hectares and lies to the south of Gowkthrapple and west of Overtown.
The planned development, which will consist of 600 homes, has been dogged in controversy with many Overtown residents against the construction plans which could see the village double in size.
The main concerns with the development which were raised by residents previously at public meetings with North Lanarkshire Council and Holder Planning, the agents for the developers, were an increase in traffic congestion, problems with parking and the impact on the capacity of local schools.
The applicants, WD Hill and RT Hill, appealed directly to the Scottish Government for planning permission, which was granted on appeal. Agents for the developers claim that around 275 jobs will be created locally during construction.