Revised homes plan for old rail buildings accepted by heritage body

HERITAGE chiefs have dropped opposition to converting Scotland’s oldest remaining original railway station buildings into housing.

The buildings at Newtyle are nearly 200 years old and are the subject of a plan for six family homes.

The Commercial Street scheme emerged again late last year after developers withdrew a previous plan for four three-bedroom homes.

That proposal was criticised by statutory bodies and railway buffs over changes to the sheds.

But Historic Environment Scotland (HES) now says it will not object to the Simco Inverladie Ltd scheme, which has not yet been considered by Angus planning councillors.

HES said: “Built in the early 1830s as the terminus of the Dundee and Newtyle railway, the category B-listed former railway station at Newtyle is the oldest station site in Scotland to retain anything of the original building.

“The larger building was the original station, with the smaller structure abutting this added later – probably sometime after 1861 – as a new passenger station.

“The original station was later remodelled as a goods shed.

“In our view, this is a greatly improved scheme and we welcome the revisions for this proposed development, which we consider have addressed the comments we made in our previous consultation responses.

“Our view is that the proposals do not raise historic environment issues of national significance and therefore we do not object.”

The body added: “However, our decision not to object should not be taken as support for the proposals.

“This application should be determined in accordance with national and local policy on listed building/conservation area consent, together with related policy guidance.”

Angus Council’s roads chiefs have said they are not opposed.

But they have suggested conditions that include a 25-metre extension of the footpath on the north-east side of Commercial Street and drainage to ensure surface water does not run on to the public road from the site access.

Also, Aberdeenshire Council Archaeological Services, which provides archaeological services for Angus, has not raised any objection to the revised scheme.

However, it has requested a full survey of the buildings to ensure that a record is made of the site.