Plans for two homes on site of demolished villa

May 7 2008 Report by Alastair McNeill

PLANS have been submitted for two houses on the site of a historic Bothwell villa demolished earlier this year in controversial circumstances.

The property at 9 Old Bothwell Road, built in 1872, was flattened earlier this month to the dismay of neighbours.

South Lanarkshire Council are looking into the matter.

Officials there say they have not received a ‘prior approval’ application under which the method of demolition is considered.

It has, however, emerged, in a letter from a senior council planner to Bothwell councillor Henry Mitchell, that two new applications for houses, covering the site of the demolished building and adjoining land, have been lodged.

The applications are for the demolition of a house, subdivision of curtilage, and erection of a house.

Covering plots three and four on the site of 9 Old Bothwell Road, the applicants are said to be a Mrs Ryan and a Mrs Kelly.

It is still unclear who was responsible for the 19th century building’s demolition.

Councillor Mitchell said he was told by council operations and area manager Morag Little that a warrant to demolish the building had been granted to applicants Daneski Ltd in September 2007.

Ms Little said: “The agents were advised by the building standards team leader of the need to also obtain the appropriate approval from the planning service.”

She added: “Although no application has been received for prior approval, this process does not consider the principle of demolition but covers the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site.

“It is normal practice that such details are included with any application for re-development of the site.

“However, this is not the case in this instance.”

She was taking steps to find out who was responsible for bulldozing the house.

Ms Little stated that there was, however, no “specific action” which planners were in a position to take over the house’s demolition.

She added: “I would assure you that the proposals for the erection of the two houses on the site will receive the appropriate levels of scrutiny.”

Councillor Mitchell said: “It seems to me that the council’s hands are tied, but I’m shocked that there is such a gap in planning legislation.”

According to the letter, planning permission was granted in June 2006 for the erection of three units within the grounds of 9 Old Bothwell Road.

The Victorian building was to be retained and re-used as part of that application.

Two plots were to be created between numbers seven and nine and a further plot between number nine and 11.

The applicants, said the council, were Morrisons solicitors of Glasgow who were acting as executors of Dr James Hamilton.

A sign currently on display at the 9 Old Bothwell Road building site calls the area “Bothwell Heights” and states that it is an “exclusive” development of “four detached, five-bedroomed homes.”