West Lothian has won a rare victory to protect its countryside from housebuilders as the Scottish Government backed the rejection of plans to build on open fields outside Armadale.
The Scottish Government ‘s Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) backed up West Lothian Council’s December decision against plans by Miller Homes.
In the decision however, the planning Reporter agreed there is a shortage of land for new homes. And as he welcomed the decision local independent councillor Stuart Borrowman issued a note of caution, saying "no-one can be sure a housing estate won’t pop up in the fields next to them .”
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Miller had wanted to develop open farmland at Stonerigg farm on the western fringe of Armadale.
An agent for the housebuilder was blunt when he spoke to the Development Management Committee in support of the application. He told councillors his firm wanted to develop greenfield sites because it is cheaper than re-developing brownfield ones.
The firm wanted to build on a 39 acre site beyond the boundary of the town, in open countryside off a poorly maintained C-class road.
Planners had recommended refusal, citing the potential damage to the amenity of open country and to natural sites such as the neighbouring Black Moss. The Black Moss Local Biodiversity Site (LBS) is directly adjacent to the north of the site.
At that meeting councillor Borrowman warned that the council would need to take action to encourage building on brownfield sites to stop more applications such as Stonerigg.
The decision by the Scottish Government’s planning appeal Reporter is only a partial victory.
Writing on his social media page Councillor Borrowman told constituents: “The Reporter concluded that 'notwithstanding the substantial shortfall in the effective housing land supply to 2024' ,something the Council vigorously disputes), 'The adverse impacts identified… would significantly outweigh the benefits and that the proposed development would not be sustainable."
Councillor Borrowman told constituents: “This is a win for Armadale but the somewhat arcane dispute about how to calculate whether the housing land supply is adequate will leave the back door open to other developments not identified in local plans until such times as the Scottish government determines a definitive methodology.”
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The application was denied consent because it was a poor site, eating unnecessarily into the countryside and would, in my view, have created traffic problems on the Northrigg road and other issues in the town.
“Worryingly, the Reporter might otherwise have given it approval because she was unconvinced as to whether there is sufficient housing land to meet West Lothian’s needs. Another Reporter in the same unit seemed to take the opposite view on this issue elsewhere in West Lothian in the same week.
“No resident in West Lothian can currently be sure a housing estate won’t pop up in the fields next to them whether it’s in a development plan or not.
“The Scottish government has to end that situation as soon as possible.”
He added: “Meantime, I’m pleased Armadale dodged development on this inappropriate site.”
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