East Lothian Courier | News | Planning chiefs get tough with housing developers

Monday, 12th May, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 09:45

Planning chiefs get tough with housing developers

EAST LOTHIAN planning chiefs have vowed to take a tough line over developers who fail to meet agreed conditions, after hearing this week that residents have been waiting for four years for a playpark which has still failed to materialise.

Approved planning consent for new-build developments usually involves some form of social responsibility on the part of the builders, such as funding for community projects.

However, councillors are becoming increasingly concerned over the frequency of unfulfilled obligations.

Councillor Stuart MacKinnon told Tuesday’s planning committee meeting: “We need to send out the proper message that conditions of approved planning applications need to be attended to.

“We have got to make sure that developers, wherever they may be, do not walk away from their responsibilities.”

Planning convenor, Councillor Barry Turner, added: “I don’t have statistics to say how often it happens, but I am aware that it does happen on a more frequent basis than I would wish.

“The council places priority on making sure that all planning conditions are enforced.”

Their comments came as the committee unanimously rejected an application by Kenneth Buglass for three detached houses with double garages on an area of open ground at Lochend Gardens, Dunbar.

The committee heard that the proposed site had previously been earmarked for a childrens play area to serve the 27 houses built by Mr Buglass in nearby Leslie Way.

Planning permission for the Leslie Way development was granted in June 2001. Conditions included provision of a play area with surrounding grassed open space on part of the development site south of the local curling pond.

The conditions had stipulated that the associated works be completed before the last of the Leslie Way houses was occupied – on May 18, 2004.

Graeme Parkes, secretary of Leslie Way Residents Association and one of 19 objectors to the proposed Lochend Gardens development, said: “We have fought very hard for years to get the planning conditions enforced. The provision of the play area and the repair of a wall are conditions that have never been fulfilled.”

Planning officials recommended refusal of the latest application, stating that to do otherwise would set an “undesirable precedent for the development of new houses on other open spaces within the locality.”

Mr Buglass, who gave a detailed technical presentation to the committee in support of his application, pointed out that he had given £275,000 in community contributions to the council.

He maintained that the play area could be relocated.

The developer has six months to appeal the committee’s decision.

Comments

BobD

May 8 08 15:46

Our Ref: 515

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Provision of play space isn't the only failure that can be laid at the door of developers.

When the development of West Windygoul was approved, a condition was attached that the "affordable housing" element should not be substantially different in appearance from the private sector.

Talk about a sore thumb! These houses are surrounded by very large detached houses with at least one garage. In the public section there are no detached - nor I believe even semi-detached - and of course no garages.

Further, I thought we'd got rid of outside staircases with the impressive refurbishment of Harkness Crescent.

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