COUNCIL planners have given the go-ahead for a large house at the site of the riverside Inverkip property at the centre of the Margaret Fleming murder investigation.
The two-storey development at Seacroft on the A78 will have five bedrooms, including a guest suite plus sitting rooms, a large dining and kitchen area, a games and play room and an office.
A design document submitted to Inverclyde Council by Rebecchi Architectural stated: “Given its recent tragic history surrounding a murder enquiry, a fresh, contemporary development will bring the site a new lease of life, which is in the interest of the immediate neighbours and those living in the area.”
In their decision report, planning officials state: “The proposed house undoubtedly presents a larger, modern structure of a modern form and materials which do not replicate the existing traditional 1.5 storey bungalows in the immediate locality.
“This larger site can however accommodate this scale of development without causing overdevelopment or any overbearing physical impact on neighbouring properties.
“The design and form of the house is considered to have been carefully considered to maximise the attributes of the site to provide a high-quality development which protects the residential amenity of existing properties.”
The applicant’s design document also stated: “Although located among 1.5 storey houses, we feel a two-storey house would be more fitting for the significantly larger plot than its neighbours. However, the house is split into five distinct gabled forms, giving the appearance of multiple smaller buildings. This reduces the overall height, helping the building feel smaller.
“Introducing balconies further takes advantage of the site’s location, creating elevated external private spaces from which to enjoy the surroundings. To complement these, large overhangs provide protection from rain and sun to minimise excessive solar heat gain.”
Seacroft was subject to an extensive search by police trying to trace missing woman Margaret Fleming. In 2019, Edward Cairney and Avril Jones who lived at the property were convicted of murdering her.
There have been a number of previous applications for the site, proposing several properties, all of which were approved but didn’t proceed.
