The green light has finally been given for a massive new development at the former Bangour Village Hospital, boasting over 900 homes, a primary school, shops and leisure facilities.
Planning permission in principal has been granted by West Lothian Council to joint applicants Allanwater Homes Bangour Limited and Ambassador Group for the massive new development after years of wrangling.
They want to build up to 1000 homes split between new build and conversions of existing buildings on the site - however council planners have warned that the conditions placed on giving permission mean they may not be able to build that many houses.
The plans also include a new single stream primary school potentially including the reuse of the hospital’s former recreation hall, repair or replacement of the cricket pavilion and retention of a local village shop.
It also has the potential for a family pub/restaurant, coffee shop/crèche and community use.
The applicant has been in dialogue with Historic Churches Scotland and is funding a feasibility study into reusing the church.
The plans also include a new district combined heat and power plant via a green Energy Network. This will provide heat and power across the site with a low carbon footprint and at reduced cost.
As only planning permission in principle has been approved, full details of the development’s layout, siting and design have not yet been confirmed.
The 90-acre site near Dechmont contains 15 Listed Buildings in total, including the memorial church, recreation hall, administration block and several wards, the former nurses home, former hospital block, some dormitory block villas, the former power station complex (including workshops and chimney stack) and Honeysuckle Cottage.
Over the years it has attracted ghost hunters and Hollywood film The Jacket, starring Adrian Brody and Keira Knightly, was filmed there.
The development will be delivered in phases.
Phases 1 to 4 will include the refurbishment of three villas, along with the commercial hub including the boiler house complex and Honeysuckle Cottage. The Boiler House Complex houses the energy centre for the district heating system.
The recreation hall and school will be started towards the end of these phases.
Phases 5 to 7 will include the completion of all of the remaining existing listed buildings, with the recreation hall and school completed before the first occupation of Phase 5 with the final stages - up to phase 11 - coming after.
In its supporting report, agents Ryden LLP said: “The former site Bangour Village Hospital has been allocated for housing for over a decade since closure of the hospital. The deteriorating condition of the large number of listed buildings is an ongoing cause for concern and the council is keen to see a positive outcome for the site.
“The council remains hopeful that a development solution can be agreed with relevant parties to allow for preservation of the listed buildings protecting and enhancing the conservation, the character and appearance of the listed buildings and their settings and protect areas of woodland and open space within the site.
“The council remains supportive of new development within the site subject to an agreed master plan.
“Delivery of the site must be allied to the delivery of the infrastructure, such as a new local primary school, required to support the development.”
Allanwater Bangour Ltd acquired the site from NHS Lothian several years ago and Ambassador Group is the lead developer that has secured funding and will manage the delivery of the plans.
In approving the application, Craig McCorriston, head of planning, Economic Development and Regeneration at West Lothian Council said: “ The application is considered to be a significant
departure from the development, due to the scale of development being proposed.
“It is regrettable that some of the listed buildings are unable to be saved and a significant amount of woodland is to proposed to be removed.
“On the other hand, the redevelopment of the site will secure the future of a further 11 listed buildings including two which are A listed and of significant heritage value. Previous proposals for the site have faltered and many of the buildings on site are now at very real risk of being lost.
“On balance, the current application represents an opportunity to save the buildings and protect their future. However, the development of 998 units as set out in the indicative drawings is far beyond what was promoted in the Local Development Plan.
“There is a risk that this level of development results in unnecessary loss of trees and impacts on the character and setting of the listed buildings and the conservation area. For this reason, the application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions which will require the submission and approval of a detailed design guide and further assessment and protection of trees.
“The applicant should be in no doubt that, in complying with these conditions, it may not be possible to develop 998 units on the site.”
Bangour Village Hospital was built in the early 1900s as a psychiatric asylum.
The hospital was requisitioned during both world wars, and the site was later returned to its original hospital use. A private railway line was built, branching from the former Edinburgh
and Bathgate Railway line at Uphall, terminating at the Bangour station.
The Memorial Church was built between the wars and the site continued to provide care until its closure in 2004.
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