FURTHER evidence has been submitted to planning minister Alex Neil MSP against the potential development of Duntiglennan Fields.

The first submission by Provost Douglas McAllister and planning chairman Lawrence O’Neill was refused in December, but a second has been allowed.

The cabinet secretary had intervened with a ministerial directive to remove the greenbelt status of the fields to allow housing giant Taylor Wimpey to build a 100-home development.

It followed West Dunbartonshire Council’s unanimous decision to oppose the application and throw out national planner’s instructions to allow it, following hundreds of objections from the public.

Provost Douglas McAllister told the Post: “The ball is very much in the Scottish Government’s court now. Alex Neil’s team will want time to look at the new information we sent them earlier in the month, to see if it allows him to withdraw the ministerial direction.”

 

Residents say the 100-home development would further congest the busy area and destroy wildlife and natural beauty, given the greenbelt status, and that homes should be built on brownfield sites, of which there are many, in Clydebank.

Harry Borthwick, of Mirren Drive, said: “I don’t understand why it has to be in this area of greenbelt. Clydebank is crying out for development, but not around the periphery of the town.”

The provost said SNP MSP Alex Neil was concerned with West Dunbartonshire meeting its house-building targets, and that he insisted the land be altered from greenfield. If it were, it would give the council fewer grounds to resist the development.

The Glasgow and Clyde Strategic Development Planning Authority had stated West Dunbartonshire must have 250 homes built per year from 2013 to 2018.

In December, the figure changed to 150, prompting an argument that, in light of the Queens Quay development, the Scottish Government minister may drop support for Taylor Wimpey’s bid.

The provost insisted there was no way he or the council would back down on their support for the constituents. 

Taylor Wimpey is still planning to build.

Stephen Andrew, technical director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, said: “We are in the process of preparing to make a planning application for our land at Duntiglennan Fields in Duntocher and it is our plan to submit our application to West Dunbartonshire Council in the spring of this year.

The housing giant wants to build two, three and four bedroom houses in a mix of terrace, semi-detached and detached homes.

Mr Andrew added: “However, the final composition of our development proposal will not be finally determined until we finalise our planning application.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Following the recommendation of an independent reporter, the Scottish Government directed West Dunbartonshire Council to look again at the decision to allow building on land at Duntiglennan Fields in their Local Development Plan. Providing sufficient land to meet an area’s housing needs is a key priority for ministers.

“Ministers have received information from the council on why they feel the housing allocation is not appropriate and are now considering whether any further action needs to be taken before making a decision.”