Developer granted permission in principle to develop former school grounds

Oct 7 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A MAJOR developer have been granted permission to build on the site of a former special needs school.

At a meeting this week, South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee granted planning permission in principle for Muse Developments Ltd to erect a “mixed use development” at the former Craighead School grounds in Hamilton.

The proposed development of the site, just off Whistleberry Road, will include trade units, a hotel and conference facilities.

Initial plans to also build a care home on the site have been scrapped.

It is hoped the development of the school grounds, near the East Kilbride Expressway, will provide a jobs boost for the area.

The work must begin within the next two years, according to the application granted.

Craighead School closed its doors for the last time last December after 61 years teaching pupils with additional special needs.

Steve Turner, regional director for Scotland at Muse Developments, said this week: “We are delighted to have been granted planning permission in principle by South Lanarkshire Council.

“We are actively marketing the site with a view to attracting one or more occupiers and feel confident that both the opportunities available and the prime location will be of interest to those businesses looking to grow, consolidate or relocate.”

Plans include a “new access road from Whistleberry Road serving three development areas to accommodate a hotel/leisure element, Class 4 Business units, and a trade park”.

The planning committee’s decision to approve the plans in principle has been made with a number of conditions attached.

Prior to the commencement of developing the site, further applications must be made and approved by the planning committee.

These applications will include the layout of the site, including roads; parking areas and paths; siting, design and external appearance of all buildings; landscaping proposals; and drainage from the site.

Planners will also have to submit an “energy statement which demonstrates that on-site zero and low carbon energy technologies contribute at least an extra 15 per cent. reduction in CO2 emissions”.

The developers have also been asked to take into account the local wildlife around the area, which borders wooded areas that form part of Back Muir Plantation.

A condition of the granted application states that no trees should be lopped, topped of felled during the proposed work.

Muse Developments have also been asked to conduct a survey to determine the presence of badgers on the site before any development commences. The proposal guidelines state: “The development shall not begin until any such action as is recommended by these surveys has been implemented and completed in accordance with the agreed details.

“These surveys shall provide details of measures to protect the property from potential future badger activity, measures to allow the free movement of badgers through the site, measures to reduce the risk of badger road mortalities and measures to prevent badgers establishing new setts within the application site during various phases of development.”