Exhibition on planning controls

A series of exhibitions is planned around Uphall to explain plans to change the conservation area boundaries and lift tight planning controls in some areas .

Uphall is one of nine conservation areas in West Lothian. It was designated in the mid 1970s and focused on historical character of the old village and its unique housing estate related to Scottish Oils. Within a conservation area some permitted development rights are removed for example, planning permission is necessary for dormer extensions, painting facades, replacement windows and doors, lopping trees and installing illuminated signs.

Council planners have completed their initial Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA) and ready to stage exhibitions. Residents in the village have been kept informed of the plans.

The CAA suggests taking some streets out of conservation area status. These are mainly modern residential development and include areas such as School Place and Howieson Green and are of a different form to that of the historic centre of the village.

Proposed areas to be excluded from the Conservation Area boundary are; north side of Alexander Street; School Place and the garage in West Main Street; housing areas in north East Main Street, Howieson Green and Manse Park; individual buildings along Ecclesmachan Road and at South Middleton, Glebe Place and

Wyndford Avenue.