A decision on an appeal against Renfrewshire Council's rejection of plans for a commercial development in Paisley, featuring a McDonald's drive-through restaurant, is now expected by late November.
Chargemaster, trading as BP Pulse, was denied planning permission for the proposal, which also included an electric vehicle charging hub, at a site north of St James Avenue earlier this year. The application, which claimed the venture would create as many as 120 jobs, was thrown out by the planning and climate change policy board.
That ruling was challenged, and ministers appointed reporter Julie Seidel-Gregory to consider the case in August. A target date of October 1 was initially set by the Scottish Government's planning and environmental appeals division, but this has since changed to November 26.
Council's reasons for refusal
Council planners' recommendation of refusal, citing loss of open space and trees as well as the impact on the character and residential amenity of the surrounding area, was accepted by elected members in May.
But Gravis Planning, working on behalf of BP Pulse, set out the grounds of the appeal in a statement in July. It said: "The site is unallocated 'white land' within the RLDP [Renfrewshire Local Development Plan] and comprises brownfield/previously developed land which is currently vacant with overgrown shrubs, mature trees and a mound of rubble."
Appellant's case
The statement added: "The site is not considered to be a high-quality usable open space for amenity or recreation purposes and has no particular civic value. The proposals would retain a significant proportion of the open area within the site and include the addition of high-quality landscaping and planting. The design/landscaping ensures that impacts on amenity of residents is minimal."
Later that month, the local authority drew attention to separate plans for a petrol station, kiosk, electric vehicle charging and drive-through café at a nearby location in West March Road. EG on the Move's proposed development, which it also rejected, is set to go ahead after it was allowed on appeal by the Scottish Government.
Council's response and next steps
In its response, the council said: "The council considers that the position taken on appeal reference PPA-350-2602 further compounds the overall unacceptability of this site for the development as proposed through this current appeal, particularly noting the fact that the site subject to this appeal is immediately adjacent to residential properties on St James Avenue with no intersecting land or areas of woodland to provide a buffer and/or screening from it from the proposed development. Its redevelopment would result in the properties of St James Avenue to be open and exposed to both this development but also the EG on the Move development."
Last month, Gravis Planning argued that particular decision "does not change the identified need" for Chargemaster's proposal and added the two could operate as a "complementary commercial hub". The appeal is now expected to be determined by November 26.
