Big house plans for Carbeth

Landowner’s proposal

The former landowner at Carbeth near Blanefield has submitted plans for a large two-storey house in the area.

Allan Barns-Graham was involved in a longstanding dispute with hutters at Carbeth, which was settled eight years ago when he agreed to give them time to raise money to buy the land.

Mr Barns-Graham, the former principal Carbeth Estate landowner, has submitted a proposal to demolish a cottage at Auchenloch, near Carbeth House, and replace it with a house with two floors comprising lounge, study, kitchen, dining room and utility room on the ground floor and four bedrooms and games room on the first floor.

A letter from civil and structural engineering consultants ATK Partnership submitted with the application refers to a structural inspection carried out at Auchenloch Cottage.

It stated: “We are of the opinion that the building is now in poor condition and with its restrictive size and shape that demolition would be the only sensible solution.

“The house is now beyond sensible repair and even adding on an extension would not be appropriate as the insulation values will be low.’

In their statement planning consultants Jigsaw Planning stated that the principle of development at the location had been established with the existing property.

It stated: “Due to the passage of time and the construction materials, the building is not capable of conversion or extension, and the applicant has justified the need to demolish it and redevelop the site for a single dwelling.”

In 2013, 90 acres of land at Carbeth was sold to the hutters in a £1.75million landmark community buyout.

Adjacent Carbeth Guthrie Estate, which had also been in the hands of the Barns-Graham family for more than 100 years, was sold last year.

It included a parcel of 52 acres of land and its B-listed Georgian mansion which dates from the early 1800s.