18 new homes planned for ‘Millionaire’s Row’ in Bothwell

Jul 24 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A DEVELOPER is planning to build 18 homes on an area formerly occupied by three substantial properties at Bothwell’s Earls Gate.

Glasgow-based John Dickie Homes have lodged an application for the five and six-bedroom homes on the area previously occupied by numbers two, three and four Earls Gate.

The existing access to the site from Castle Avenue would also be upgraded.

A spokeswoman for the developer was unable to put a value on the proposed development. However, a document lodged by the developer with the council states its estimated cost as £7m.

Built in the 1960s, Earls Gate was dubbed ‘Millionaire’s Row.’

However, planning permission was granted in 2005 for 12 luxury homes on plots 5, 6, 7 and 8 Earls Gate despite 621 letters of objection.

Opponents had considered the scheme, which also took in woodland 200 yards from Bothwell Castle, to be “inappropriate.”

Numbers 5 and 8 Earls Gate, which formerly belonged to What Everyone Wants owner Vera Weisfeld, were flattened to make way for the development.

At that time the developer, Glint Trading/Montgomery Homes, had described Earls Gate as “tired and neglected” and the £12m housing plans as a way of bringing it up to date.

Only numbers one, two and six of the original 60s development (plots one, two and nine) now remain.

A survey carried out by an arboriculturalist for the developer has concluded that seven mature trees at the site will have to be felled due to ‘decay and dieback.’

They include four lime trees, a horse chestnut, and two oaks.

A South Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said this week: “The application was submitted recently and is currently out to consultation. It is for 18 detached two-storey dwelling houses with associated garages at Earls Gate, which is located to the south of Countess Gate and to the east of Bothwell Castle. The dwellings would be finished in brick with stone quoins (cornerstones).”

Agent for Rangers captain Barry Ferguson, John Viola, had bought 3 Earls Gate for £950,000 in February 2003, according to the Land Register of Scotland.

But when Mr Viola was asked by the Advertiser that year if he had bought the house, he would neither confirm nor deny it.

Number four Earls Gate was once the home of Lanarkshire businessman Steven Gillespie.

Numbers three and four Earls Gate were both gutted by fires (November 2005 and April 2007 respectively), and the police considered both blazes to be suspicious.

A detached luxury house currently occupies the site at number 2 Earls Gate.

According to the Land Register, a number of properties in the cul-de-sac were bought by the wife of Lanarkshire businessman James Gaffney in 2002.

The Land Register also showed Mr Gaffney had bought 2 Earls Gate for £950,000 in November 2002.