An appeal against Renfrewshire Council's decision to reject plans for 33 homes in Bridge of Weir is expected to be determined by early November. James (Glasgow) Ltd, a company listing Rangers hero Ally McCoist and Jeffrey East as directors, was denied planning permission for 10 houses and 23 flats in Thriplee Road earlier this year.
Refusal and challenge
Planners had recommended approving the proposal, which prompted hundreds of objections, subject to conditions and a legal agreement to secure commitments such as an education contribution. However, it was refused by the planning and climate change policy board in May, with SNP council leader Iain Nicolson arguing the "flatted element" would be "incongruous" with the surrounding uses and landscape.
McInally Associates, working on behalf of the applicant, challenged the ruling to ministers in August and said it felt the board's rejection was "unjustifiable". It claimed: "The planning and climate change policy board's reason for refusal is not supported by any objection from the identified statutory consultees, any contrary technical assessment, any identified conflict with the Renfrewshire LDP / NPF4 or the recommendation of its own professional planning officers."
"In these circumstances, the reason for refusal cannot reasonably be sustained."
Council's response and revised plans
Porter Planning issued a response on behalf of the local authority in September, setting out its case for snubbing the application. It said: "The council considers that the three flatted blocks do not respond sufficiently to the immediate lower-scale context around Thriplee and Carruth Road, particularly when their massing is considered together with the site's elevation and changing levels."
"That same concern informs the local visual relationship and the proposal's interface with the Ranfurly Conservation Area."
Earlier this year, it emerged the applicant had cut the number of homes in the plans from 38 to 33 as it bid to get the project over the line. The latest version detailed an intention to build four detached houses, six semi-detached houses and 23 flats split into three individual blocks.
Design intent and public response
Stewart Associates, the architects, said in a statement the design intent of the project is to create a development that is "safe and pleasant"; has a sense of 'place'; complements and contributes to the surrounding environment; improves the variety of private housing for people in Bridge of Weir; respects site-wide ecology and habitat and boosts overall site biodiversity.
A total of 395 objections were lodged in response to the plans, including issues such as the impact on biodiversity, additional traffic and the effect on infrastructure, while 63 were submitted in support.
The Scottish Government's planning and environmental appeals division confirmed the case is ready to be allocated to a reporter for consideration and has set a target date of Tuesday, November 3.
