A FINAL decision on controversial plans to demolish a house in Clynder and build three new homes on the same site looks set to be delayed again.

The proposal by Paul Rodger for the site at Peat Knowe, on Back Road, was first assessed by Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee in June.

Councillors at that meeting agreed to put a decision on hold until they had received more information on the stability of the site after fears were expressed over the potential for flooding.

A civil engineering report was requested by the authority, but it had not been received within the deadline to be considered at the committee's next meeting, due to be held on Wednesday, August 17.

And a planning officer has now recommended that the application is continued again until the committee’s next meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28.

To date, the proposal has received 17 objections through the council’s online planning portal, as well as one expression of support.

In addition to the flooding concerns, the objectors have also raised fears over the impact on neighbouring properties, vehicular access to the site, the effect on biodiversity and the ability of the infrastructure in the area to support a development of three new homes. 

In a new report on the case, the council planning officer dealing with the application said: “At the PPSL meeting on June 22, the council agreed to continue consideration of this application at their next available meeting in August 2022 and instructed officers to request that the applicant provide by the end of July 2022, an engineering report on the ground engineering works required.

“[These works are required] to ensure stability of the sloping ground to prevent any slippage or flooding onto neighbouring properties.

“Officers advised that the PPSL committee had requested that this item be reported back to their August meeting if possible, and that in order to meet that deadline it was requested that the report be submitted no later than July 31.

“In the event that it was not possible to submit within this timescale the agent was requested to provide written confirmation of the reasons for any delay and the expected time period for submission in order that this can be provided as an update to PPSL in August.

“To date, a civil engineering report has not been submitted and nor has the agent contacted officers to agree an extended timescale for preparation and submission of the report, in sufficient time to allow this application to be reported back to the September meeting of the PPSL.

“Officers intend to contact with the agent prior to the August committee and provide an update to members by means of a supplementary report to the August PPSL committee.”

The officer concluded: “It is recommended that consideration of this planning application be continued to the September PPSL committee to allow the applicant the extended opportunity to prepare and submit the civil engineering report requested.”