South Ayrshire Council News

An exciting outline planning application for new housing in Troon has been given the go-ahead by South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel.

Stuart Milne Holdings’ ambitious plan to build up to 600 new homes received approval and the Panel learned that as part of this the company will actively be involved in:

• Making land available for a guaranteed 150 affordable new homes with social landlord Ayrshire Housing.
• Extending Struthers Primary School and Marr College to take account of new children coming into the area and to build new car parking spaces at Barassie railway station.
• Developing an all-weather sports pitch and changing facilities, and the reservation of land for a local shop to serve the new residents and wider community.
• Creating a network of pedestrian links between existing housing developments and making sure the Smuggler’s Trail path between Dundonald Castle and Troon allows for uninterrupted walking.
• Developing comprehensive drainage and anti-flooding measures to protect the site, local waterways and adjacent land & developments.

Meeting on Wednesday 12th December, the Regulatory Panel heard that the forward planning and application process has taken over ten years and in that time the developer has worked to overcome the concerns and objections of local residents. They will now also have to meet over 41 conditions and six legal requirements to proceed.

Chair of the Regulatory Panel Cllr Nan McFarlane said: “I would like to commend the developer for the way they have responded in taking local concerns and objections into account. At no point have they sought to rush this through and they have been pro-active throughout the whole process. The designs we have seen today are fresh, modern and very well thought out and include most of the changes suggested by local people.”

Cllr McFarlane continued: “The Council’s own Planning Department took a lead as drivers for change in pushing this development through. By involving Architecture & Design Scotland and making sure that local opinion was fully considered, the new houses will be a diverse mix of house styles with plenty of open green areas for recreation and enjoyment.”

South Ayrshire Council’s Head of Planning and Transportation, Ian McLarty commented: “we are committed to the Scottish Government’s design agenda and all proposed developments have to conform to these policies. Stuart Milne Holdings have produced plans that are consistent with this and, given their innovative approach and their commitment to including affordable houses, I am confident this development will be a blueprint for other authorities to follow.”

A local forum will be set up, involving local people, community councils, South Ayrshire Council and the developers. The forum will be kept up to date and involved with the project at every stage of the project on an ongoing basis.

Subject to full planning permission, preliminary work will commence on the site to the north east of Troon in May 2008 with the housing development likely to start in autumn the same year.