Hope for homes bid as plans are revised

Jun 19 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A KNOCKED back housing development is going back before councillors.

And this time, the Hope Homes bid has been recommended for approval.

The bid would see 28 houses built on agricultural land on Ayr Road.

Public open space, a play area and landscaping will also be developed.

Drongan based developers Hope Homes were refused permission in January 2008.

They went away and made major changes to the plans and came back before councillors in May this year.

But an eleventh hour objection from eco-watchdogs SEPA led to the council’s decision being stalled further.

Hope Homes now believe they have the right mix, and planners have advised councillors to give the proposals the green light.

However, there have been scores of changes to the original plan.

The site has been reduced in size, the layout and housing types have been altered, the number of parking spaces has been reduced to provide more public space, and an additional footpath has been added in to provide better connectivity.

And Hope Homes have agreed to supply seven of the houses directly to Ayrshire Housing as affordable housing units.

Ian Simpson, chief planning officer, has reported to councillors: “I consider the revised proposals do not now have an adverse impact on the residential amenity of nearby properties, and the proposed development is not out-of-character with the residential nature of the locality.”

Members of the council’s regulatory panel will consider the application on Thursday.