PLANS for a new storage building in Cardross look set to fail after a council officer recommended that planning permission should be refused.

An application by Craig Cant for permission to build the facility on a site nearto Darleith Lodge, to the north of the village, attracted 72 objections from the public to Argyll and Bute Council.

Cardross Community Council and Scottish Forestry, both statutory consultees, have also objected, amid concerns that the land could become a builder’s yard.

And a planning officer has now recommended that the council’s planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee refuses planning permission when it considers Mr Cant’s application on Wednesday, August 19.

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A handling report to go before the committee states: “The site is within the green belt, and in this case the determining issues are whether the proposal is justified at this location and its impact on the natural, human and built environment.

“In terms of the adopted Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan LDP Policy DM 1 sets out the settlement strategy in terms of capacity in each of the development management zones including greenbelt.

“Greenbelt is a fairly restrictive policy which only gives encouragement to limited and specific categories of countryside-based development.

“These include, inter alia, agricultural related development, outdoor sport and recreational development, demolition and replacement of buildings subject to no change of use occurring and change of use of buildings to residential institutional use.

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“In this case the supporting statement indicates that the application site does not form part of an agricultural unit. The storage shed does not comply with any of the permissible forms of development set out at LDP DM1 (G) and therefore it is considered that it should be refused.”

Cardross Community Council said in their objection: “The stated purpose is for a yard to store agricultural plant and machinery.

“The applicant is a local building contractor and there is concern that this would become a builders’ yard which would be wholly inappropriate in a quiet rural area and would adversely impact on nearby residential properties in terms of noise and disruption.

“The site is accessed from Darleith Road which is single track and with few passing places. It is used for leisure purposes by many villagers and visitors and is the access route to the John Muir Way and Balloch via Stoneymollan.

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“The road is particularly unsuitable as a regular access route for heavy plant and machinery. This area of greenbelt is a haven for wildlife and there is concern about the previous felling of trees during the bird breeding season.”

A supporting statement by architects The Hay Partnership said: “It is a result of the very limited number of industrial and storage premises in and around Helensburgh and Cardross that the applicant has resorted to endeavouring to build a bespoke unit.

“The sylvan setting will ensure that the new building and yard remain fairly discreet and the suggested design, materials and colour will further help to integrate the building into the setting.

“Overall it is hoped that Argyll and Bute Council will recognise the shortfall in availability of such premises for local companies and will appreciate the efforts the applicant is making to create a new facility in as appropriate a manner as possible.”

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