Hospital site work set for spring start

Strathmore Hospital tree survey, north part of site: Existing buildings and landscape setting, and buildings to be retained.

Strathmart ine Ho sp i t a l ’ s redevelopment could finally be under way in the spring. The pledge came from developers behind plans to create more than 200 homes on the fire and vandal-hit site.

It was made as Angus councillors unanimously approved an editing of planning conditions around previous permission granted for the sprawling former hospital.

Concerns remain around pressure on Strathmartine primary school and the “unacceptable” trip older children will face to Forfar Academy.

Alan Bell, of developers Chamberlain Bell, told the full council: “We are ready to start in the spring.

“We will have the first a c t i v i ty on the listed building and site infrastructure to open up the rest of the site.

“T he development is dependent on the rate of sales for the new-builds,

Incorporated retained existing buildings and proposed new buildings. my guess is that would be a four or five-year period.”

In 2018, Scottish Ministers granted permission for 26 flats in the derelict hospital’s listed buildings, and 198 new-builds.

The masterplan has been altered to create a dozen family homes in the converted property.

Developers gave assurances an adopted footpath would be built to the village.

Howe ver, Carnoustie councillor David Cheape said the authority needs to “think out of the box” on the education question.

“Of course we want to see this development up and running.

“But I think we need to consider school provision and capacity at Strathmartine Primary.

“I am staggered to think we as a council are just sitting back and saying we’re prepared for children to make a 32-mile round trip to Forfar Academy.”

A new £50 million

Monifieth High is planned by 2025 and Mr Cheape said he believed children should go there.

Arbroath SNP councillor Alex King said: “I have every confidence this company can deliver what they are talking about.

“If we don’t agree this, we might as well condemn the residents of Strathmartine to another 17 years of vandalism.

“The main problem with the education system is that Dundee City Council will not talk to us to agree a cross-border allocation for schools.”

Monifieth and Sidlaws SNP representative Sheila Hands said the council is in a “catch-22” situation.

“The site is not safe so something does need to be done.

“But my immediate thought is that we’r e shaving off a square peg to fit in a round hole.

“My constituents are not getting a very fair deal compared to other housing developments in Angus.”

Category D: Should be removed. Building to be retained. Building that could be demolished. READY TO GO: Plans for the Strathmartine Hospital site may soon become reality.