By Andrew Jarret

DEVELOPERS ARE bidding to have their recent refusal for a large scale 121-house development in Arbroath overturned.

Stewart Milne Homes, based at Westhill in Aberdeen, have lodged an appeal with the Scottish Executive.

Towards the end of last year Angus councillors threw out the development at Cliffburn in Arbroath, against the advice of their own planning officials.

Development control chiefs had given a green light recommendation to house-building firm’s plans for a 4.9 hectare site on the eastern fringe of the town.

However, the density of the development and the type of housing provided did not satisfy councillors, who narrowly voted six-four to reject the proposal.

Councillor Frank Ellis said he was concerned about the type of housing being proposed.

“This is not a numbers game—it is about quality of housing,” he said,

“The open space is totally inadequate. I have no objection to the site per se, but this is over-development.”

The proposed development also attracted a large number of objections from local residents who felt that the scale of the build would lead to over- intensification in the area.

This is a view shared by Arbroath councillor Alex King, who warned, however, that the site was set down in the local plan for housing.

He said, “One thing which is not in doubt is that this site will have a major number of houses on it in the fairly near future.

“Over the years Arbroath has become unbalanced, the bulk of development in the last 40 years has been on the west side of the town.

“But this site requires to be redesigned for fewer houses to allow the appropriate level of open space to be accommodated within the development.”

Councillor King conceded that there was pressure on the Arbroath housing market, and that more houses needed to be provided.

Councillors recommended that Stewart Milne re-apply for the site with an amended plan, but instead the house-builder has simply decided to pursue matters through the appeal process.