Plans for 595 new homes to be built at the western edge of Dundee have been thrown into disarray after a bizarre decision by councillors rejecting one half of the planning application and approving the other.
What was essentially the same application came in two halves due to there being two different landowners involved and both were recommended for approval by city development director Mike Galloway.
At Monday night’s development management committee, convener David Bowes moved approval of the first application but Councillor Ian Borthwick moved to reject it on the grounds there was no primary school included, stating the five miles to Ardler Primary was too far for young children to attend.
Sandy Adam, chairman of Springfield, told the committee that he was satisfied with Dundee City Council’s position that Ardler Primary and Baldragon Academy could accommodate the expected number of children moving into the villages and, therefore, they had no plans to build a school.
The resulting 12-10 vote in favour of Mr Borthwick’s amendment came as a surprise to many of those present and there were some heated exchanges when the second proposal was debated.
Crucially, Councillor Craig Melville, who had voted in favour of the amendment, left the chamber before the second vote took place.
Councillor Mohammed Asif, who had arrived after the start of the first application hearing and was, therefore, unable to cast a vote for that, then backed the motion to approve the second application.
That resulted in a tied vote, with 11 in favour of approval and 11 against, and the convener’s casting vote meant the application was approved.
The end result was that the community facilities which had been welcomed by all councillors but which were contained in the first application, will now not be built as only the playpark and football pitches form part of the second application.
That was greeted with bewilderment by residents of the Liff area.
Ruth Bickerton of West Green Park residents association said: “It doesn’t make any sense. They’re now able to build a lot of houses but not putting the community facilities in. It’s the worst possible option.”
Resident Professor Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe added: “They might not sell those houses. It’s in Dundee city’s interests to put a school there.”
Following the first vote, Councillor Jimmy Black, who had seconded the convener’s motion to approve the application, said he found the decision “inexplicable”.
He said: “Sometimes I wonder how we get ourselves into these situations. It appears to be that the only reason for objecting to the last one was that Ardler Primary and Baldragon are not good enough and that’s really surprising for Baillie Borthwick (in whose ward both schools lie).”
Mr Borthwick angrily retorted: “I take strong exception to Councillor Black’s remarks. I certainly do think both schools are good enough for my constituents and it’s a most insulting comment to the people in the area I represent.
“I’ve never heard such a silly remark.”
Councillor Ken Lynn admitted: “I am astonished by Councillor Borthwick’s late intervention. I didn’t think it would get any backing at all.
“To reject this amount of high-quality houses, this amount of jobs, on the grounds that it’s too far from schools points to madness.”
The Western Gateway has long been earmarked for development and councillors were expected to rubber-stamp the development. The homes were due to come with a commercial area with shops, offices, a nursery, cafe, village hall and a green.