South Ayrshire Local Plan

Longer Term Strategic Growth Area

South Ayrshire generally, and Ayr, Prestwick and Troon especially have benefited from a long standing commitment from the Council to encourage development on brownfield land rather than on greenfield sites in the countryside. Whilst this will continue to be the priority, it is recognised that some of the brownfield sites are more suited to particular land uses than others, and that as more of these sites are redeveloped fewer opportunities remain. Furthermore, whilst brownfield development often makes the most efficient use of existing services, infrastructure and other facilities, in some locations, these may be approaching their natural capacities.

The housing strategy of the Plan provides sufficient land to meet with the requirements of the approved Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan (2000). However, in accordance with Scottish Planning Policy 3 “Planning for Housing” (2003), it is considered reasonable to provide clear

direction on the location of future housing development, beyond the housing plan period of 2012, should the need for further greenfield land be identified in any subsequent structure plan.

The Council therefore considers that it must take a coordinated rather than ad-hoc and incremental approach towards longer term development within South Ayrshire, which will continue to attract major investment. Government policy and structure plan policy is clear about the need for new investment to be located in sustainable locations. Therefore, the containment of new development, the availability of local services and the opportunities to use a variety of modes of transport are vitally significant considerations in the allocation of land for development. South Ayrshire Council considers that the most sustainable course of action, should further greenfield land be required, is the coordinated and managed development of appropriate strategic locations for investment.

Land at South East Ayr is considered to have potential as a longer term urban expansion area, to provide housing development, if so required, and also industrial/business development. In reaching this view the Council considers the following factors to be particularly relevant:-

The site has readily identifiable boundaries comprising the A77 trunk road, the A713 road and the High Corton Road;

An operational passenger and freight railway line passes through the site providing opportunity for rail access to and from the site; and

There is already development comprising three hospitals as well as the long established, but as yet undeveloped, industrial land allocation at Cockhill.

Notwithstanding the above merits of this land for long-term housing and industrial/business purposes, future housing requirements may be capable of being accommodated on other sites, (mainly brownfield), which are consistent with the development plan strategy of the Plan, and it is therefore uncertain whether further greenfield housing land will be required in the period beyond 2012, or by way of any future structure plan reviews.

Policy STRAT 6 is intended to provide clear direction, by identifying the location of where the Council would be minded to release land for future development, should such a requirement transpire. In so doing at this early stage, not only does this plan provide certainty to the community and for the development industry over the longer term future development of South Ayrshire.

It also provides an opportunity for the masterplan process to be undertaken with a view to the site being proven of required by the structure plan. In the meantime, until such a requirement has been established, the land remains outwith of the settlement boundary of Ayr, over which relevant strategic policies apply, namely rural protection area policy (STRAT3), the extent of this policy designation is indicated on the Proposals Map.

STRATEGIC POLICY STRAT 6

224 Hectares of land at South East Ayr is identified as a longer term strategic growth area, should a requirement for additional housing land be identified through the structure plan process. Any residential, or associated development in this location will be required to conform with the provisions of a master plan which has received the prior approval of the Council and which has been prepared in consultation and agreement with key service providers in order to ensure appropriate mitigation measures to address the consequential impacts arising from the development are incorporated within the overall master plan.

It is an essential requirement that the site will not be made available other than for development in accordance with Strategic Policy IND 3, until such a time that a comprehensive master plan has been prepared.

Some elements of the development are already identified in this Local Plan and approved structure plan. Policy IND3 safeguards 30 ha of land at Cockhill as a strategic industrial site. The master plan preparation process will be required to examine whether this is the most appropriate location within the master plan area for a strategic industrial site.

In addition to the identification of residential and industrial land the comprehensive master plan for the site will also include the following elements:

Provision of a substantial amount of affordable rented housing development;

Identification of a site for a new primary school;

Identification of land for shops and community facilities to serve the local area;

A comprehensive scheme of traffic management and public transport plan to encourage use of a variety of modes of transport;

The provision of a rail halt and line extension to provide a passenger rail service to the whole of the development area;

Safe and adequate links across the A77 trunk road for pedestrians and cyclists;

A comprehensive inventory of the infrastructure consequences of development; and

The principles of layout and building design.

The above list is not exclusive.