A Dundee developer has vowed to appeal the council’s rejection of his plans to build affordable eco homes for older people in the city.
Owen Dyer claims there is a shortage of suitable housing for Dundee’s increasingly ageing population.
He said his own parents, who are in their late 60s, were faced with the issue when trying to find accommodation, inspiring him to draw up plans to try to solve the problem.
Initially, Mr Dyer wants to build three prototype houses for over-55s to rent on land south of Kirkton Road. If successful, he plans to build similar homes in different areas of the city.
However, Dundee City Council has rejected the plans for the initial three homes, stating that they would constitute a “poor quality form of over-development” in the area.
Mr Dyer said: “I will be appealing this.
“The idea is to build houses for older people, such as couples whose children have left home, near good transport links and other infrastructure.
“Currently there aren’t many places that are both affordable and suitable.
“Older people don’t want huge houses that are difficult to heat, so these homes will be eco-friendly and designed to retain heat to keep bills low. The houses would be two-bedroom and will be for rent.
“I realised there was a shortage of suitable houses for older people when my own parents were looking foe somewhere.
“The plan definitely is to build more, but first we need planning permission for the prototypes. Dundee has an ageing population so I feel that this is important.”
The local authority’s decision notice stated the development “will not respect the existing development pattern of built form and spaces”.
The report added: “It will result in a poor quality form of over-development and there are no material considerations to justify a decision contrary to this.
“The proposal does not meet the minimum floor space, bedroom numbers, garden ground or parking provision requirements for the three dwellings.
“The application fails to comply with Policy 38 (Trees and Urban Woodland) of the Dundee Local Development Plan and Policy 35 (Trees and Urban Woodland) of the Proposed Dundee Local Development Plan 2 as there is no justification for the removal of the mature trees and no tree planting scheme or landscaping have been provided.”
