Plans for former Blairbeth Golf Club site

Around 140 houses could be built on the site of the old Blairbeth Golf Club it has been revealed, as South Lanarkshire Council sets out its plans for the next local development plan.

The local authority proposed a series of changes to land in Rutherglen and Cambuslang – including greater environmental protection for Holmhills Park –in its latest Main Issues Report.

Currently out for consultation, the report includes proposals to create a new country park across 20 hectares of Blairbeth Golf Course, whilst retaining a further seven hectares for new housing.

Fernhill man Davy O’Neil has long campaigned for more leisure space in the area.

He hopes money made from the sale of land for the houses is invested in making the park a first-class facility.

He said:“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a small five-a-side park, a pitch and putt to reflect the golfing history and a wee putting green for the kids?

“They don’t have that kind of thing anywhere. It would be great to have that and a couple of decent swings.

“If there are to be more houses up there, there will be even more need for it.”Blairbeth is one of three areas the council has identified as suitable for housing.

It has suggested a further 80 houses be built in Hallside East, on either side of Hallside Road near to Manse Brae, whilst also arguing that Bouverie Street in Rutherglen be designated as urban general, paving the way for affordable housing.

The Main Issues Report also includes developments already agreed or partially proposed by South Lanarkshire Council.

This includes the regeneration of East Whitlawburn and the redevelopment of the Bridge Street and Somervell Street area of Cambuslang.

Whilst Keepmoat and Dawn Homes have already won planning permission to build homes on the former Hoover site, the council is proposing the wider area is designated a development framework site and a masterplan created to plan for the future.

This would look at how the surrounding land could be used and integrated with existing infrastructure.

This proposal includes the much talked about park and ride for Cambuslang train station.