COUNCILLORS have agreed to residential development of fields at the north eastern edge of Glasgow, despite officials urging refusal.
Glasgow’s planning applications committee voted 11:5 to approve an application by Taylor Wimpey/Caledonian Properties for permission in principle for housing on “edge of settlement” green belt land beside Robroyston.
The land — bounded by Robroyston Road, Auchinairn Road and Lumloch Road — is considered to have capacity for around 350 properties.
A report by officials, recommending rejection, stated: “The proposal does not accord with the Strategic Development Plan, nor City Development Plan. In light of there being sufficient housing land supply, there is no justification to diverge from development sites allocated within the development plan, nor undermine Green Belt objectives.
“The Green Belt must be protected and conserved as an important asset to the city. The proposal is contrary to the sustainable spatial strategy which focuses development and regeneration to the existing urban area and sites well served by public transport.
“The proposal is also contrary to natural environment objectives and will adversely affect the integrity and character of a Site of Special Landscape Importance despite the mitigation measures included in the proposal and cannot be supported, therefore.
“The site must be protected from inappropriate development to ensure its continued contribution to the environment, sense of place and quality of life.”
Detailed plans involving issues such as design and layout will still need to be brought forward for consent.
Documents submitted with the application stated: “The scale of the site is such that this will create the next new suburban neighbourhood within Robroyston.
“The opportunity exists to create an attractive and innovative layout with green vision at its heart to create an outstanding new community.
“Green spaces will be distributed throughout the development. This will result in a distinctive development with a real sense of place.”
The whole site area is about 56 acres (23 hectares) although the amount on which there would be housing would be significantly less as there would be substantial areas for landscaping, tree planting, open space and infrastructure.
The statement continues: “Part of the site has already been allocated for residential development within Glasgow City Development Plan. That part of the site is almost undevelopable due to severity of topography and limited access option.
“The opportunity exists to expand the allocated area to the more rational wider land holding under the applicant’s control to create a more cohesive development parcel.”
