Parkhall housing development ‘blight’ may be resolved

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Edel Kenealy

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Published: 7 Apr 2015 08:300 comments

THE threat of a housing development which has “blighted” the people of Parkhall for 10 years may finally be resolved soon.

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The local development plan, which governs how land can be used and developed within West Dunbartonshire, is soon to be formally adopted by the local authority for 2015 to 2020.

Crucially for the people of Parkhall, the plan will reverse a previous decision to label land adjacent to Dalmuir Golf Course as ripe for residential development.

The adoption of the plan comes as a FIFTH planning application to develop the former Dunclutha House site is submitted to West Dunbartonshire Council.

Parkhall Developments Ltd is seeking planning permission to build 10 residential units comprising of two detached four-bed houses, two semi-detached three-bedroom homes and a block of flats consisting of six two-bed flats.

The number of houses on the site has been reduced from previous applications, which included proposals for 30 flats, 25 flats and a mix of houses and flats totalling 16 homes.

But the residents of Parkhall say 10 units is still too many for a site that is 3/4 of an acre.

The housing delegate for Parkhall, North Kilbowie and Central Community Council said the application was an attempt to maximise the development value of the site.

He said: “We are not averse to housing in there but it is only fit for two to three houses, this is over development.

“It is very similar to the last planning application, apart from the fact that they have moved a house five or six yards away from the houses that neighbour it. The block of flats is very high-sided above the golf course, it protrudes out over the golf course.”

Tired of incessant proposals for the site, the spokesman said he hoped changes to the local development plan would end the application onslaught.

“The council have taken it off the list of housing opportunities which means it is just listed as an empty piece of land, so I think that will help towards stopping the thing,” he said. “It is tedious, our lives have been blighted by this for ten years or so. You really do get fed up with it all.”

Paul Clark, acting as the agent for Parkhall Developments Ltd, admitted he had not been aware of the forthcoming change to the local development plan but said he was hopeful of winning planning approval.

He said: “We can only work to the current local plan.

“The planning department themselves have labelled the site for a total maximum of houses in the region of 12, so they have listed it as suitable for 12 houses, we only have 10.”

Mr Clark also said one detached home had been moved within the site to ensure the privacy of homes on Overton Drive, whilst any array golf balls could be caught with large nets. These adjustments to the planning application, he says, address earlier concerns expressed by West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee.

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