Plan for 1,000 homes on Glasgow’s greenbelt rejected
Plans submitted by Caledonian Property seeking to construct 1,000 new homes in a development on greenbelt land on the edge of Glasgow have been rejected.
The developers hoped to build up to 1,000 homes on land at Blackhill Road, near Balmore Road, Summerston, close to the council border with East Dunbartonshire.
Glasgow City Council initially rejected the plans, but Caledonian Property had appealed and a final decision had to be taken by a Scottish Government Reporter, The Glasgow Times reports.
Concerns were highlighted over building on green belt land and on creating more traffic, not just in the area but in other areas down the Balmore Road Saracen Street corridor, including Ruchill, Possilpark and Hamiltonhill and that limited public transport would lead to greater car use.
The reporter, Mike Shiel, said in his findings: “There are issues over accessibility to the proposed development, when taken as a whole, that would be likely to increase the reliance on the use of private cars by residents.”
“I do not consider that it can be guaranteed that the public transport improvements suggested would be implemented or maintained in the longer term; or that, given the overall size of the area, they would adequately address the needs of the development.”
He concluded: “The proposed development does not accord overall with the relevant provisions of the development plan and that there are no material considerations that are sufficient to justify granting planning permission. “
Bob Doris, Maryhill and Springburn SNP MSP, had been backing residents efforts to halt the development for a number of years. He said: “The decision of The Reporter is both welcome and a huge relief.
“Their findings are detailed, considered and chime with much of the concerns we have been raising over several years now.
“Concerns over increased traffic, a lack of amenities, over access and over environmental impact were all cited. I absolutely agree and have been making such a case for some time.”