INVERCLYDE planning board has agreed that residential development can take place at a former burial ground beside Gourock Ropeworks, Port Glasgow.
A four-storey block of 24 flats — 16 two-bed and eight one-bed — is proposed for land beside the A-listed Gourock Ropeworks.
Planners had recommended approval for the application as long as a legal agreement is in place restricting the development to amenity housing, because of parking levels.
Councillors, who had visited the site, voted to grant permission on that basis at a meeting on Wednesday. They asked that an archaeological watching brief be undertaken during any excavation works.
The site was a burial ground in the 19th century, becoming disused in the 1910s. The plot was incorporated into the Gourock Ropeworks operation in the 1960s and contained industrial buildings which were demolished around 2000.
A report by Stuart Jamieson, Inverclyde Council’s interim director for environment and regeneration, stated: “I note that archaeological surveys were previously carried out as part of a condition of planning permission granted back in 2008 which identified that there were graves remaining on site.
“Subsequently, discussions have taken place between the applicant and the council regarding the disinterment and reinternment of the human remains within the graves to a cemetery within the Inverclyde area.
“The applicant has also submitted a writ to the courts, to obtain legal consent to relocate the human remains to a cemetery within the Inverclyde area.
“The process of disinterment and reinternment of human remains falls outwith the remit of the planning authority and is more appropriately controlled by other legislation.
“Any potential contamination issues relating to the disinterment can be addressed as part of [land remediation] conditions previously identified by the head of public protection and covid recovery.”
The report also noted that not enough car parking spaces are being provided to meet standards for a private development. However the parking provision proposed — 21 spaces — would be acceptable for amenity housing.
The report continued: “Following further discussions with the applicant, they have indicated that they would be agreeable to transferring the site to a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) for development as amenity housing and have identified an RSL that would be interested in taking on the site.”
Concerns had been raised over the flats obscuring the façade of the historic Ropeworks structure, which now contains flats.
But Mr Jamieson added: “I am satisfied that the setting of the listed building has been taken into consideration with regard to the design and position of the proposal and that the building is of a high standard which is acceptable for the surrounding context.
“Furthermore, I note that Historic Environment Scotland raises no concerns or objections over the impact of the proposal submitted on the neighbouring listed building.”
