APPEAL Bid Is Latest Twist In Kilmacolm Housing Saga

A DEVELOPER is fighting back over refusal of a major residential development at Kilmacolm.

Inverclyde Council rejected a bid by Taylor Wimpey (West Scotland) for around 100 houses at Planetreeyetts.

The company has now appealed to the Scottish Government urging that the decision is overturned.

The application was considered by the council at the same time as a proposal by Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd for 75 homes at Kilmacolm Meadow, west of Quarry Drive, which was approved.

Officials had chosen the Quarry Drive site for residential use in the proposed new Inverclyde Local Development Plan to meet a housing shortfall whereas the Planetreeyetts site was to remain as green belt.

Planners stated: “A range of sites over a variety of geographies across the whole council area have been identified to address this [housing land supply] shortfall and, with specific regard to Kilmacolm, the [Quarry Drive] application site has been determined to be the most sustainable of the potential land release options.”

The council refused the Planetreeyetts plan because it would lead to an “inappropriate level” of new housing in the village, failing to protect its quality, character, landscape setting and identity.

Further reasons included loss of trees and the generation of a significant level of private car traffic.

Agents for Taylor Wimpey (West Scotland) state in documents submitted to the Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division that “none of these reasons for refusal is considered to be sound” and that the council needs to reassess its position in respect of the housing land supply.

The council’s decision regarding Quarry Drive was ‘called in’ by the Scottish Government for it to consider whether it should go ahead.

This was because the case “raises issues of national significance with regard to the interpretation and application of Scottish Planning Policy, and in view of Inverclyde Council’s interest in the proposed development”.