Homes receive backing
Councillors have backed controversial plans to build 52 homes in Longridge despite fears the water supply cannot serve existing homes.
And there has been criticism that the plan – part of the Heartlands development for Whitburn – flies in the face of integration policies by sticking affordable homes on the outer edge of the giant development site, in a village with few amenities.
Planning permission for the site off Fauldhouse Road had been agreed in principle in 2006, but the details for the site initially suggested 30 homes could be built. The new plans detail 52 homes – a 72 per cent increase in density.
At a recent Development Management Committee, Councillor Willie Boyle described the plan as shocking.
He compared the“cramming”density of the houses onto the site to the equivalent of building a multi-storey block.
He also highlighted the problems with the water supply and the fact that the nearest play facilities are at the other end of the village, across two main roads and don’t offer enough for existing children.
He added:“The fact that people in the village have already had to fit water pumps, that alone tells you there is something wrong with the water supply. That is a fundamental which needs sorted before we look at more development.”
Councillor Boyle said he was“appalled” by the way the affordable homes had been “crammed into a far corner”of the Heartlands site and questioned why it was not spread throughout the housing development as recommended.
Sarah Lapsely, an agent for the developers O’Brien Properties, said that this was first affordable housing element of the development site and others would be forthcoming.
The plans received 45 objections from local people, including a petition, claiming they had been given little in the way of consultation on the scale of the development proposals.
Dr Stig Walsh told the meeting the last census detailed a village of 900 people. The new development could bring a 25 per cent increase in population – with existing facilities amounting to a chip shop and a sub post office.
Dr Walsh is one of the residents who has had to fit a water pump to his home. He told councillors:“It has been an ongoing problem with water supply for years. Now it is crucial the supply capacity be investigated.”
Another, Gordon Beurskins, in a written objection, suggested the planning application: “seeks to allow higher profits to be disgorged from the Heartlands project, by delivering the less socially and economically desirable element of affordable housing away from the more profitable private housing, and in far greater density than has ever been proposed for the application site.”
He added:“The council should not set aside the principles in its own policy to accommodate the aspirations of land owners at the expense of the existing community. If the development must go ahead, and there is no good reason why it should in its current form.”
Planning officers said if detailed permission was obtained the development would still be dependent on obtaining assurances on water supply issues from Scottish Water.