CAMPAIGNERS opposed to plans for a housing development in Portincaple say they remain convinced a planning application lodged last week is merely the first phase of something much more substantial.

The application for a development of 12 houses was published on Argyll and Bute Council’s website on Friday, February 15.

The scale of the proposed development is significantly smaller than that contained in a ‘screening and scoping application’ to the council for the site last year.

READ MORE: Loch Long development proposal goes public in 'screening and scoping' bid

That application included outline drawings for 24 hillside terraced houses and 12 lochside terraced houses on around 1.95 hectares of steeply sloping land, along with a hotel, a ‘mixed commercial use area’ and a new ‘public realm’ space.

A spokesperson for the ‘Save Loch Long – Protect Portincaple’ campaign told the Advertiser: “While the application under consideration is only for 12 houses and associated works, we are fully aware that this is the first step towards something approaching the 36 house and 22 bed hotel ‘holiday village’ that was the essence of the plans submitted last year.

“This would double the size of the existing settlement, remove even more of the semi natural ancient woodland in which the village is situated, and be in direct conflict with many of the stated aims of the council, and the Scottish Government, in their efforts to combat climate change by reducing the reliance on the car.”

READ MORE: Portincaple plans 'wrong development in wrong place', say campaigners

A statement by MH Planning Associates in support of the formal application says there is “sufficient policy support” to allow the scheme to go ahead.

The plans have been drawn up by Helensburgh-based Puregreenspace Architects.

Bruce Jamieson, from the firm, recently criticised what he called a “deliberate and focused campaign of misinformation” by local protesters.

READ MORE: Architects hit back at Portincaple housing plan protests

Planning officers at the council are expected to make a decision by early April, though it is expected that the application will be referred to the authority’s planning, protective services and licensing committee.

The statement by MH Planning says: “The current proposal is for the erection of 12 dwellings, and in the context of policy this would be classed as ‘medium-scale’.

“Whilst there is therefore a general presumption against development of this scale in a village or minor settlement, having regard to the provisions of Section 25 of the Town and County Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, planning permission can nevertheless be granted where material considerations indicate that this would be appropriate.”

Comments can now be made to the council on the proposals via its online planning portal, using the code 20/00094/PP.

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