Plans for almost 70 new homes on the site of a former Dumbarton high school are expected to be given the green light this week.
Persimmon Homes submitted a planning application for 68 properties at the former site of Our Lady and St Patrick’s High in Castlehill earlier this year.
Initial planning notice for the site was given in March 2020.
The school closed in 2017 when pupils moved to a new £25million development in Bellsmyre, and was demolished in 2018.
If approved, the development would stretch from Cunninghame Graham Memorial Park and Sunderland Avenue, to the former sports pitch for the school – which is to be retained, with a pavilion added.
Under the plans, 27 three-bedroom detached homes would be built, along with 18 three-bedroom semi-detached, 15 two-bedroom mid-terrace and eight three-bedroom end terrace properties.
The final remaining part of OLSP, the vacant janitor’s house in Cardross Road, would also be demolished under the plans.
At a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee tomorrow, members will be asked to decide whether to back the plans, with a report recommending they are given the go-ahead.
The report adds that four objections have been received, with concerns including traffic congestion – in particular when added to the impact of Miller Homes’ development of 81 new homes on the site of the former Notre Dame Convent on the opposite side of Cardross Road.
If approved, a new vehicle access point will be created from Cardross Road, with the report saying: “The redevelopment of the site will consist of the demolition of the last remaining structure that formed a part of the old school complex, namely the vacant janitor’s house in Cardross Road at the southern boundary of the application site.
“Its removal will enable the formation of the new vehicular access to the site.
“The current vehicular access from Hawthornhill Road will not be retained as part of the development although pedestrian connections are proposed to Hawthornhill Road.
“The formation of access in Cardross Road will also require the relocation of the existing signalised pedestrian crossing approximately 200m east to accommodate a new right-turn lane to serve the development.”
The report concludes: “The site is within an existing residential area and, subject to the appropriate use of conditions, the proposed development is acceptable.
“The layout and design of the development has been developed to ensure that it integrates with the existing residential form as well as creating a high quality development which enhances the local residential area as well as improvements to the footpath and greenspace networks.
“The development will provide high quality housing with good connections to the surrounding area and wider green network.”
