The first phase of a major housing development in Whitfield has been approved by planners.
A total of 35 houses and 14 flats will be built on land by Summerfield Avenue in a joint venture by Merchant Homes and Home Scotland. They are planning a second phase in which another 41 homes will be built.
In their planning application, they said they wanted to create a strong identity for the development, with a “safe and pleasant environment” that ensured overlooking of streets and public spaces and avoided dead-end or unseen areas.
The design will take account of the south-facing slope of the site while making homes energy efficient, with a basin to the south-east of the site to take surface water run-off.
There will also be a “homezone” design with houses and flats bordering a large courtyard, which would be a shared space between pedestrians and drivers, with the aim of keeping vehicle speeds down.
Trees will be planted along the internal streets and other hedging and soft landscaping will be used to enhance the look of the development.
A council planning officer said policies supported the building of mixed-tenure housing as a key component of the regeneration of Whitfield.
He noted that flats would not normally have been acceptable.
He said: “The proposals involve the erection of 14 flats for social rent by Home Scotland. Eight of the proposed flats will provide tenants with a level of support through connection to an external support facility.
“In this instance the scale, massing, design and accessibility of the proposed flats will provide greater choice in the type of accommodation available in this part of the city as well as a greater level of amenity to those who occupy them.
“The design statement demonstrates the open space, access, drainage and parking strategies that have been combined by the applicants to create a high-quality residential development that will enhance the variety and urban form of Whitfield.
“Material considerations weigh in favour of the proposal and justify the approval of planning permission contrary to the provisions of the local development plan,” the planning officer said.