Planning application for residential housing in West Mains was given the green light on Tuesday.

Feb 25 2010 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

AN OUTLINE blueprint for a development in Stonehouse has been given the thumbs up by council chiefs – despite almost 100 letters of objection.

South Lanarkshire’s planning committee approved applicant K Weir’s proposal for the West Mains site at a meeting on Tuesday.

Objections to the proposals from Stonehouse residents included: access, the time taken for construction, and the impact on amenity. Road safety and the volume of traffic during construction was another concern.

Residents also wanted assurances that Manse Road in the village would not be used for any site access.

The report stated that Roads and Transportation Services were satisfied that the proposal raised no access or road safety issues – providing that the proposed site would be accessed through a new roundabout on the A71. Other concerns from residents included the proposed impact on the infrastructure of water, drainage and sewage, and whether the Environmental Impact Assessment and Traffic Impact Assessment had been completed, with both undertaken as part of the planning application.

Wildlife and Flood Risk Assessments would be submitted as part of any subsequent application for approval, and noise pollution would be an issue that Environmental Services would address where necessary as part of their legislative powers.

Both NHS Lanarkshire and the Primary Health Care Trust were asked for their input during the consultation period of the local plan but neither organisation raised any adverse comments in relation to the West Mains site.

Enterprise Resources executive director Colin McDowell told councillors: “In summary, I am satisfied that the proposal is acceptable and that it complies with both national and local plan policy.

“I would therefore raise no objection to the proposal and recommend that planning permission in principle be granted.

“Conditions will be attached to ensure that the residential development is accessed by a roundabout on to the A71 and that development of this site does not take place before the leisure development across the A71 is completed.”