500 homes raise fears for future
Will schools, docs and facilities keep pace?
One of the most controversial housing developments in Cambuslang in a generation has been given the go-ahead.
Persimmon Homes was granted planning permission to build 371 houses and a four-storey block of flats on 8.3 hectares of open grassland just off Gilbertfield Road.
The development was rubber- stamped by councillors at yesterday’s meeting of the South Lanarkshire Council planning committee, as two other developers said they could be breaking ground at Cambuslang’s old Hoover site within weeks.
The combined developments by Persimmon Homes, Dawn Homes and Keepmoat Homes will see 581 additional homes in Cambuslang in the coming years.
But locals believe the development of local services is not keeping pace with house building in the town and fiercely opposed the Gilbertfield proposal.
Around 70 letters of objection were submitted to South Lanarkshire Council, along with an online petition signed by 1297 people. A further handwritten petition was also handed in to the council on Monday afternoon.
Objectors cited a number of reasons why it should not go ahead, including subsidence due to mining, firing range noise, unsuitable road infrastructures, inadequate doctor provision, schools and community facilities, as well as flooding, wildlife impacts and destruction of scenic green land.
But planning officials said the 43 conditions imposed on the developer addressed all of these concerns and argued the site had been designated an area for housing in the 2015 South Lanarkshire local development plan.
They recommended the planning application be approved and were backed by councillors.
Stephen Towill of the Save Gilbertfield group said: “My initial feeling is disappointment and, from what I have seen through this process, there is a big disconnect between the council and the people they are supposed to be representing.
“It’s the residents that have to live here. We are already struggling with infrastructure, etc, in an over-crowded area.”
Doug Law, managing director of Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said: “We are aware of the level of public opposition to the proposals but will ensure through our approval of matters specified in condition application that all technical concerns which have been raised will be addressed in full and thorough detail.
“Post-committee Persimmon have accepted an invitation to meet with a local councillor, which can give the public comfort that we will continue to engage and take on board their comments where possible. We look forward to commencing development on-site.”
A masterplan for the site also showed an area designated for a further 54 affordable housing units to be built at a later date, subject to a separate planning application.
A 2.5- metre bund with an acoustic fence will be built at the south of the site to reduce noise from the nearby Dechmont Rifle Range.
P auline Elliott, the council’s head of planning and economic development , said: “Through these discussions the council has secured land for affordable housing within the site, which will be in the form of serviced land for up to 54 new homes. A financial contribution towards off-site provision will also be included.
“Not only will this be a boost to increasing the supply of council housing but, with a proportion of the private homes to be low- cost starter homes, this development could also give many local people and families an opportunity to get on to the housing ladder.”
There is a big disconnect between the council and the people