Housing decision will be appealed
A land management company has become the latest to appeal against councillors refusing to let them build new houses.
H a l l a m L a n d
Management is fighting
against West Lothian Council’s rejection of plans to build on 20 acres of prime farmland in East Calder.
The council’s Development Management Committee published notice of the appeal to the Scottish Government in its
papers for the meeting at the end of the April, less than four months after the full
council rejected the Hallam proposal.
It is the latest site
contested by developers vying for prime housing sites in the county.
Hallam Land
Management sought outline
planning consent for the 20 acres- to build around 90 homes - on what is currently farmland on the edge of East Calder at Oakbank Road.
Agents for Hallam argued
that the site represented a natural extension for the
settlement of East Calder. They also argued that the council does not have sufficient land set aside for housing demand.
This is disputed by the council.
However other developers have used the argument successfully.
Last month, a Reporter from the Scottish Government’s Planning Appeals division (DPEA) cast aside the council and objections from local people to overturn a decision
against building more
than 100 homes in open countryside off Hen’s Nest Road, East Whitburn.
In that case, Ogilvie Homes appealed to Holyrood’s Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA),and one of their officials - known as a Reporter- backed their
proposals to build on the farmland that separates the
two communities.
The reporter can
determine the appeal by a
review and assessment of
all the information before
him/her, plus a visit to the
site or more information,
an informal Hearing or a Public Inquiry can also be required .
Generally written submissions, or
occasionally a hearing,
are the usual means of
determination. The reporter will issue the decision to all parties.
That decision is final, though it can be challenged for procedural points through the courts.
Local councillors said existing infrastructure could not cope with extra housing on the A71 route into the capital.
Hallam suggested at the time it was providing a need
where the demand was at its
highest, close to transport links.
It pointed out that among
statutory consultations there were no objections from council departments such as roads, which had suggested that conditions could be added to consent.
Nevertheless there were 18 objections to the plans including from East Calder Community Council
protesting at the loss of open
countryside.
Ward councillors, Conservative Damian Doran-Timson and the SNP’s Carl John moved and seconded a motion against the plans citing the
strain on the surrounding
infrastructure.
“The infrastructure around East Calder is
grinding to a halt,” said
Councillor Doran-Timson.
Councillor John added:
“Out of 3,000 houses planned for the area only
1,000 have been built and traffic on the A71 is nose to tail as it is. The A71 is a major problem that the council, the Scottish Government,
someone has to sort this
out.”
Bathgate Councillor
Willie Boyle had asked
the developer’s agents for specifics regarding carbon
emissions and sustainability
of the development.
Unsatisfied with the answers, he branded the
plans “purely speculative”.
A meeting of the West
Lothian Council Planning Committee threw out the plan in December.
Last month the Scottish Office planning appeals process was branded
a “lottery” for the
inconsistency of policy
regarding planning and
the frequent overturning of locally made decisions.”