A developer has been lambasted for marketing its new homes as being set in “beautifully green surroundings” after ripping up hundreds of trees, shrubs and greenery from the Paisley site earlier this year.
Miller Homes has this week formally opened expressions of interest for the 179-house development it plans to build at the former University of the West of Scotland Thornly Park campus (UWS).
The developer yesterday confirmed it had officially acquired the land off Caplethill Road from the university following a lengthy planning process.
On its website, it is urging potential home owners to register interest in the housing scheme it argues will be in a “peaceful, tree-lined setting”.
The listing states: “Thornly Park is a wonderful new community of three, four and five-bedroom energy-efficient homes in the vibrant town of Paisley.
“Set in beautiful green surroundings just two miles from the attractive town centre of Paisley, within easy commuting range of Glasgow and convenient for Glasgow Airport, this attractive selection of energy-efficient new build homes for sale brings an exciting new neighbourhood into an exceptional location.
“Offering a choice of prestigious three, four and five-bedroom properties, attractively landscaped in a peaceful, tree-lined setting, it presents an outstanding residential opportunity.”
The listing has been described as “galling” by Save Paisley’s Green Space (SPGS), the group which campaigned for three years to save the land from development.
In June, campaigners tied themselves to trees and blocked the path of bulldozers and mass machinery which eventually went on to rip hundreds of trees from the 19.97 acre site.
A spokeswoman for the organisation told the Paisley Daily Express: “Having campaigned for weeks while Miller Homes were busy destroying hundreds of very mature native trees, bulldozing flat the attractive topographical characteristics of what was once the lovely, leafy UWS campus and depriving all the wildlife of their long-established habitats, SPGS find it somewhat ironic, galling even, that the site is being marketed as ‘set in beautiful green surroundings’.
“The environmental damage is only apparent when you walk through the site and not as seen from Caplethill Road, where also sadly a badger was killed during the tree felling phase.
“SPGS would also dispute any commentary from their PR machine that they are considerate of the environment.
“If this were true, many more trees at this site would have survived and a masterplan considerate of the trees and topography with sustainability at its heart would have been submitted, this was sadly not the case.”
She added: “SPGS have never denied a need for housing but always highlighted the peripheral location of this site, far from amenities and schools, would result in increased vehicle journeys and emissions, another environmental downside.”
Miller Homes says it hopes to list the homes for sale from this autumn when the development will be launched on the open market.
It will include 167 private homes and 12 affordable homes. Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the builder vehemently defended its approach to trees and the environment.
She said: “As agreed, as part of the planning permission granted by Renfrewshire Council and in consultation with the Forestry Commission, the Thornly Park development will feature compensatory planting, consisting of an extensive woodland mix of 8,000 native trees, plants and shrubs, including Birch, Scots Pine, Aspen, Hazel, Holly and Rowan species.
“In addition, the development will be further enhanced with tree-lined streets and natural play areas within the public open spaces.
“Our aim is to create a sustainable space and leave a positive legacy for the local community and the planet.”
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