Fresh plan for Bothwell flats still ‘unacceptable’

Jun 4 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

FRESH plans for flats on the site of Bothwell’s former Silvertrees Hotel have been lodged with council planners.

Developers Gilchrist and Lynn have submitted a proposal for 60 flats, including landscaping and underground car parking, on the site which is adjacent to the village Conservation Area.

Similar plans, submitted in 2005 and 2006, by developers Park Circus Homes for 96 flats on the Silverwells Crescent site were criticised by Bothwell Community Council, and the village’s Conservative councillor Henry Mitchell, as intrusive and inappropriate.

These plans had comprised four 10-storey blocks of flats, a 238-space underground car park, and a ‘cascading rock water feature.’

This week Mr Mitchell said the new scaled-down plans - which comprise two blocks of two-and three-bedroom flats and ‘penthouses’ - remained unsuitable for the residential area.

“They are modern buildings and out of keeping with the surrounding area,” he commented.

“There is one five-storey block and one four-storey block.

“I welcome some sort of development on that site, at the moment it is a black hole.

“However, 60 flats of the type proposed is unacceptable. It amounts to overdevelopment.

“There are problems in Silverwells Crescent at the moment with traffic trying to get on to Hamilton Road. This development has the potential for 120 cars and would make a bad traffic situation worse.

“These flats would also overlook properties on Old Mill Road and the privacy of residents there would be affected.”

Former applicants Park Circus Homes had described their scheme to be of benefit to the community and one that would enhance an area of Bothwell which was currently lying empty.

The Advertiser contacted Gilchrist and Lynn’s architects, DTA Associates in East Kilbride, for comment, but they did not return out call.

A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The application has only recently been received, so it therefore too early to say when it will go to committee.”