Plans for a massive new development at the former Bangour Village Hospital, boasting over 900 homes, a primary school, shops and leisure facilities have taken another leap forward.
Planning permission in principal has been granted by West Lothian Council to joint applicants Allanwater Homes Bangour Limited and Ambassador Group for the massive new development after years of wrangling.
And this week key community benefits that were part of the conditions of the site’s planning approval have now been agreed.
Ambassador Group wants to build up to 1000 homes split between new build and conversions of existing buildings on the site.
The plans also include a new single stream primary school potentially including the reuse of the hospital’s former recreation hall, repair or replacement of the cricket pavilion and retention of a local village shop.
It also has the potential for a family pub/restaurant, coffee shop/crèche and community use.
The applicant has been in dialogue with Historic Churches Scotland and is funding a feasibility study into reusing the church.
The plans also include a new district combined heat and power plant via a green Energy Network. This will provide heat and power across the site with a low carbon footprint and at reduced cost.
As only planning permission in principle has been approved, full details of the development’s layout, siting and design have not yet been confirmed.
The 90-acre site near Dechmont contains 15 Listed Buildings in total, including the memorial church, recreation hall, administration block and several wards, the former nurses home, former hospital block, some dormitory block villas, the former power station complex (including workshops and chimney stack) and Honeysuckle Cottage.
The development will be delivered in phases.
Phases 1 to 4 will include the refurbishment of three villas, along with the commercial hub including the boiler house complex and Honeysuckle Cottage. The Boiler House Complex houses the energy centre for the district heating system.
The recreation hall and school will be started towards the end of these phases.
Phases 5 to 7 will include the completion of all of the remaining existing listed buildings, with the recreation hall and school completed before the first occupation of Phase 5 with the final stages - up to phase 11 - coming after.
A Community Liaison Group will be formed to promote dialogue between Ambassador, Bangour Village Estate residents and the wider community.
Gordon Coster, Managing Director of Ambassador Group’s Developments Division, said: “This is a major milestone in bringing our vision for Bangour Village Estate to fruition and shows our commitment to integrating with the local community.
“We hope it recognises, respects and cherishes the heritage of Bangour in such a way that our reimagining brings this iconic and much-loved site back to life.
“These community benefits are essential in establishing the necessary infrastructure and environment we would like to achieve here, bringing circa £150m of investment into the area over the 10-year project.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with West Lothian Council as we move forward through the detailed planning process.
“We pride ourselves on being a good neighbour within the communities we build in. We are incredibly excited to be progressing these plans to restore and repurpose this incredible site, whilst engaging with the surrounding communities to drive forward these commitments in the coming months.”
Bangour Village Estate has been granted planning permission in principle for its overall masterplan and Ambassador Living is now working through the detailed plans to allow them to commence on site.
Allanwater Bangour Ltd acquired the site from NHS Lothian several years ago and Ambassador Group is the lead developer that has secured funding and will manage the delivery of the plans.
Bangour Village Hospital was built in the early 1900s as a psychiatric asylum.
The hospital was requisitioned during both world wars, and the site was later returned to its original hospital use.
A private railway line was built, branching from the former Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway line at Uphall, terminating at the Bangour station.
The Memorial Church was built between the wars and the site continued to provide care until its closure in 2004.
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