Two blocks of flats will be built on the site of a former bowling green in Hamilton.
South Lanarkshire councillors gave the green light for plans to build 12 flats on the bowling green next to Low Waters Miners’ Welfare and Social Club.
The application, made by the Procast Group, proposes to build two blocks of six cottage flat. The flats will be arranged over two floors with the homes in the bottom floor of each flat being wheelchair accessible. All flats are two-bedrooms.
And the blocks will have an enclosed area to be used as a private communal amenity space, with 27 parking spaces accessed directly from Alness Street.
The Low Waters Miners’ Welfare and Social Club disposed of the bowling green in 2021, after it being in use for over 100 years. The club and the green were repossessed last year.
Councillor Helen Toner (Hamilton South), raised some concerns surrounding parking and traffic in the area.
She said: “ I’m concerned about the amount of traffic and the cars. I know there is car parking spaces available but some of the flats are going to open onto Elliot Crescent, which is straight at the back. Elliot Crescent is a nightmare of a road to drive down and to park down and there’s also a community hall at the back of it just at the corner of that site.
“When I looked at the plans it looks like it’s really tight to the back of that building and there’s fire exits on the back of the Low Waters hall and on the actual old miners’ social club as well, that will then be looking onto where this site is. I’m not clear exactly where the buildings are and where the car parking is going to be, I know it’s a square site but I’m not sure where they’re actually wanting to build the actual buildings.”
Council officers confirmed that there will be vehicle access off of Alness Street, The two blocks of six flats would be on the left hand side and there will be a car park area between the buildings and other buildings outside the site. This means that traffic pressures will be kept to a minimum.
SportsScotland held no objections to the application and Bowls Scotland have been advised that the club will be closing with the adjacent building having been sold to developers two years ago. In 2021, Low Waters Miners’ Welfare Bowling Club had 18 male and eight female members – it has been advised that there are several other clubs nearby which would have capacity for new members.
Environmental services and the roads department had no objections to the application.
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