Controversial new Blantyre building given the OK

May 15 2008 By Graham Fraser

PLANS to build a house in Blantyre’s Birdsfield Drive has been given to go ahead – despite a 20-name petition against the proposals.

At Hamilton’s Area Committee meeting yesterday (Wednesday), councillors agreed to grant detailed planning permission to erect the home.

Objectors argued that the construction of the house in the area would cause noise disruption.

They also said that the applicant, Margaret Stewart, was not intending to live in the house and was only seeking permission to make a financial gain.

It was pointed out this would set a dangerous precedent in the area.

The application site is a section of the rear garden area of an existing house at 29 Birdsfield Drive. The development also proposes an area for parking

Mrs Stewart has now got permission to erect a one-and-a-half storey house.

Her plans attracted nine objection letters and the petition.

As well as the precedent and disruption concerns, objectors worried that construction traffic would cause a road safety hazard for children who play in the street.

But after consultation with the council’s roads and transportation services, Iain Urquhart, executive director of enterprise resources and author of the report presented to councillors, is happy the development will not be detrimental to road safety.

In his assessment of the application, Mr Urquhart stated: “In terms of planning history of the site, a previous planning application for the erection of two dwellings was withdrawn on December 17, 2007. The proposed development did not take into account the layout and the form of the area and would result in over-development of the site to the detriment of residential amenity.

“Following discussions with Planning Service, the proposal has been reduced to one house and the setting of the house has been amended to ensure that it is now in accordance with local plan policies.

“All points contained within letters of representation have been assessed and it is considered that no issues have been raised that would merit refusal of this application.

“Roads and Transportation Services were the only consultees on this application, and they are satisfied the development is acceptable.”