Plans for nearly 50 new homes in Springholm have been given the go ahead.
Council officials have approved Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership’s proposal for 47 houses on land near Ewart Place.
The work will include the creation of a new access road from the A75 which runs through the village.
DGHP’s proposal was included in the council’s strategic housing investment plan (SHIP) last year.
A report by case officer Judith Turnbull revealed the development “would be general needs and elderly affordable housing for rent to meet demand for affordable housing in the local area”.
The document reveals there were two objections to the proposals from locals – although the council’s planning portal shows a further six were received after the March 30 deadline.
Had a minimum of six objections been received by the deadline, the matter would automatically have been referred to the council’s planning applications committee.
Issues raised by locals include fears the development would “destroy the sense of openness” in the village, light to existing homes being blocked, road safety concerns and extra strain on the village primary school.
They were also concerned the number of houses would “disproportionately inflate the population” of the village.
The case officer did not feel the layout would be out of keeping with other parts of the village. She also felt there would be no “significant adverse impact in terms of overlooking, loss of privacy or amenity” on the properties most likely to be impacted.
She pointed out neither the council’s roads officer or Transport Scotland had raised objections and that as the development was part of the SHIP and DGHP is a social landlord, there was no need to consult with the council’s education service to see if a developer contribution was required.
Although the area is allocated for 47 houses under the current local development plan, there was “no concern” that 47 houses would be too many as the figure was “indicative and not definitive”.
The case officer recommended approval with a string of conditions which was rubber stamped by economy and development boss Steve Rodgers.
DGHP has previously indicated it hoped to start work this summer.
