Homes will be built on a football pitch that nobody has claimed responsibility for in over a decade.
Numerous individuals and community groups wanted to make use of the full-size pitch on Kilmarnock's Moorfield estate but new homes will be constructed on the site instead.
Bellway's proposals to build 58 new houses just off Dumfries Drive was approved by East Ayrshire Council planners last week.
The local authority had agreed to maintain the pitch, which was built around 16 years ago, but their policy on adopting private football parks has changed in the 10 years between the park's construction and the design's approval.
A gas main surrounding the pitch was deemed to be too close to the surface for council grass-cutting equipment to be used safely.
In a report released last week, it is claimed "the council then stepped back from adopting a number of potential new facilities, due to on-going maintenance burdens."
It's also reported that "developers attempted to then sell or rent (long term) the pitch to a number of different clubs, but for various reasons these clubs did not take up the offer." In addition, it's claimed the planning service also "tried to find suitable new users, in conjunction with the developer, but with no success".
Ayrshire Live told you in July 2021 that one frustrated resident said he did apply to the council to use the park as a football pitch but was told he couldn't because of the gas main. New homes will be partially built on the football pitch with Bellway set to construct a smaller "informal kickabout area".
The application received two letters of support, one from Willie Coffey MSP and another from a resident who wanted to see the land developed as it's been left in a 'poor state'.
Bellway plan to construct a mix of terraced, detached and semi-detached homes on a parcel of unused land along with the pitch on the estate that's situated between Dumfries Drive and the busy B7064 that leads on to the Moorfield roundabout and major routes such as the A71.
The new homes will also be zoned for Gargieston Primary/Grange Academy and St Andrew's Primary/St Joseph's Academy catchment area.
The council report says the two non-denominational schools linked to the proposal are seeing "a steady rise in numbers and so the impact of the development on the respective school rolls will continue to be monitored very carefully."
The report said it was "difficult" to determine the impact of this development on early years provision as all children may not attend their nearest nursery. In an online consultation, the developer had also courted ideas for the disused sports pavilion near to the pitch to be redeveloped but the council stated that the building didn't fall within the application boundary.
Bellway's application was approved, but came with 31 conditions that must be met. Among the list, stipulations include treating Hogweed; set construction hours; and ensuring that the new kickabout area and trim trail is installed before the 29th property is occupied.
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