Uncertainty hangs over plans for a huge housing development near Cardross following a ruling by the Scottish Government.
Developer Avant Homes insists it will progress plans for up to 140 new properties on a site at Kirkton Farm, to the north of the village – despite having previously stated that road safety conditions imposed by Argyll and Bute Council would be too expensive for the firm to implement.
Its attempts to have access to the development to switched from Darleith Road to Barrs Road have also been rejected by Reporter Malcolm Mahony, who visited the site in April.
A ward councillor and a group of residents campaigning for safe access to the proposed development are now doubtful that the development will take place.
Planning permission for the site was granted in principle by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017, but variations to the conditions were sought. Avant appealed to the Scottish Government Reporter on the grounds of a lack of decision by the council.
Helensburgh and Lomond area committee chair Ellen Morton, whose ward includes Cardross, said: “The road safety measures have to go in as per the original permission given by the council. The applicant has said all along that they cannot deliver these, partly because sale of land is required for it.
“Unless there is some change in the applicant’s decision, the practical outcome is that it is unlikely that the development will go ahead.
“Whatever happens, the big issue is, and always has been, the road safety. It seems strange that this is land which has been identified for development given its location. You have Barrs Road, Kirkton Road and Muirend Road nearby, and it is beside a school, so a lot of transport already goes up there.
“So road safety measures are essential, and if the applicant cannot deliver these then that is a harsh reality.”
Mr Mahony’s decision, announced last week, stated that Avant’s appeal had been allowed and planning permission granted.
However, all was not what it seemed upon reading the report of the decision, which stated that road safety measures must still be taken and other conditions which the applicant sought to vary were upheld.
He said in the report: “The proposal is for deletion and amendment of conditions which would allow the consented housing site to the north of Cardross Primary School to take its access from Barrs Road and the adjacent road network.
“My decision must be made on the merits of the Barrs Road access and not by comparison with the alternative Darleith Road route.
“On the basis of the evidence presented I find insufficient certainty that a safe access could be secured through the proposed deletion/revision of the conditions subject of this application.
“Nevertheless, my reasoning above supports the amendment of condition four to secure compliance with the terms of the circular, and the appeal is allowed only on that basis.”
Julie Lang, of Cardross Development Safe Access Group, said: “Residents in Cardross were concerned this week to receive a letter from the Reporter at the Scottish Planning and Environment Appeals Division.
“The letter informed them that planning permission had been granted for the proposed development on the land north of Cardross Primary school. In fact, the letter was misleading.
“This has been a complex project from the start and the major problem of access to the site is still unresolved.
“In a long, but clear document, the Reporter has rejected the developer’s proposal to bring the sole access to the site along Barrs Road and adjacent roads.
“This would have been meant a potentially dangerous increase of traffic through an existing residential area.
“Condition four of the planning permission insists that the developer must first make road improvements to Darleith Road, which is still the proposed main access.
“In the past, Avant had stated that the cost of these road safety improvements would be too high. The onus is now on them to propose further changes in order to make the road safe for all users.
“The Cardross Development Safe Access Group is relieved to know that if the development goes ahead, Barrs Road will not now carry so much traffic, but they are disappointed that the proposal for ten new parking spaces on Darleith Road has been reduced to three.
“The group also remain concerned that previous proposals by the developer for any Darleith Road improvements have suggested a difficult give way system and have not included the provision of pavements for pedestrians on a narrow country road.”
A spokesperson for Avant Homes said: “We are pleased that the Reporter has granted a new planning consent for this strategically important site in Cardross.
“We look forward to working with Argyll and Bute Council to deliver the proposed development, which will be a mix of 75% private and 25% affordable homes.”
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