Controversial plans to develop land on the Crichton Estate have been submitted to the council.
The Crichton Trust’s Ladyfield Masterplan will be considered by the local authority at a later date.
The trust thanked the “level of engagement” from the local community – however a group opposing the development criticised the document.
The £45 million “care campus” in the Crichton Quarter, which would be the first of its kind in Britain, would include up to 350 homes for people of all ages, including students, and infrastructure facilities and amenities including a primary school, shops and a health centre.
A statement from the Crichton Trust said: “Following a comprehensive master planning process, The Crichton Trust has now submitted The Ladyfield Masterplan and the associated technical studies to Dumfries and Galloway Council to consider the next steps.
“The level of engagement from the local community, and from our partners and stakeholders, has been invaluable, so we would like to thank everyone who gave their time, ideas and feedback to help shape the final masterplan.
“The Crichton Trust is extremely grateful to Collective Architecture and partners for delivering Scotland’s first National Planning Framework 4 masterplan, just days after the new policy was adopted. You can now view the masterplan online at www.ladyfield.info”
However, that post on Facebook was met with several comments objecting to the plans.
Melanie Branney said: “Where’s ‘the level of engagement from the local community’?
“I’ve lived in this area since 1999 and certainly am not in agreement. Not in keeping with the conservation area at all.”
Gayle Johnstone added: “It’s absolutely disgusting that this is still going ahead. Complete disregard for the community, wildlife and land! Makes me so angry!”
Should the plans get the green light, older people will be at the heart of the community, living side-by-side with students, families and workers at the site who will all look after each other as part of a state of the art “care campus”.
The project team is hoping to see building work on the development starting within the next five years.
A group has been set up to oppose plans to redevelop Ladyfield near Kingholm Quay.
The Save Ladyfield group aims to “promote the voice of local residents” who seek to protect and preserve the greenfield site.
Concerns centre around the removal of spaces for wildlife, increased traffic on small roads to the area and climate change along Kingholm and Glencaple roads.
In response to The Crichton’s statement, they said: “We would welcome people having a good, thorough read through their published document.
“There are details in it which were never included in the consultation stages due to the trust running out of time before the final consultation event.
“Things like the new road layout and specific parking capacity are included which weren’t before .
“Just a reminder that this is a proposed masterplan, which has to be discussed by the economy and resources committee of the council, it hasn’t yet been agreed.
“You will hear more from us soon about how to get involved and have your say.”
