Plans to build 160 new homes on open fields, which were refused amid concerns over the impact on traffic the loss of farm land, have gone to appeal with the Scottish Government.
West Lothian Council’s Planning Committee last month rejected an application by Springfield Properties to build on fields at Burnhouse farm at the eastern end of the village of Dechmont.
The house builder is looking for permission in principle to build 160 new homes on the land which rises from the north side of the village Main Street and is divided by a narrow B-road leading to Linlithgow.
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The Council’s Planning Committee heard that there had been 267 objections to the proposal by villagers, as well as from local councillors, three community councils and two MSP’s
Dechmont, once a quiet village on the A89, has started to see massive redevelopment on its doorstep at the Bangour Hopsital site where almost 1,000 homes will be built. At the eastern end of the village permission has been granted for another 120 homes. These two developments alone will treble the size of the village.
Villagers have already voiced concerns about traffic congestion. Others feared the loss of character and the farmland.
One objector, Isabelle Gall, told the meeting that the Springfield proposals would further detach the village from its rural location.
She added that the plan would fly in the face of climate change decisions and lose more productive farmland from providing food at a time when the country was increasingly reliant on imported food and facing growing climate disruption and war.
“This is a south facing slope of fertile farmland. This is not just a plan for a housing estate. It would destroy a precious resource.”
Springfield argued that West Lothian needs to set aside more development land to meet demand for new homes.
However the land which had once been earmarked for housing development, was reclassified as countryside for the latest version of the Local Development Plan which is now almost five years old. As it stands now the application from Springfield contravenes 13 policies within that Local development Plan. Just one is enough to disqualify it.
The appeal will go to the Government’s Division of Environmental and Planning Appeals where a decision will be issued by the Reporter assigned to study, and decide on the appeal.
Springfield argued in its original application to the council that recent decisions by the Scottish Government to allow new housing in the countryside proved its argument of housing shortage.
This new appeal to the DPEA will show whether its confidence is justified.
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