Plans to build 250 houses on the outskirts of Carnoustie have been thrown out for the second time.
The Scottish Government reporter has backed Angus Council’s earlier decision to refuse Blackwood Development’s application to build on 22 hectares of farmland near Pitskelly Road.
The developer’s agent Rick Fink Associates argued the council had dealt with its application in a “superficial manner” and in supporting a rival developer’s housing plans was “maintaining a protectionist stance.”
But reporter RW Maslin agreed the application – for 250 family homes including 65 affordable units – did not agree with the local development plan and would lead to the loss of prime agricultural land.
The official also judged plans to expand Shanwell Cemetery, part of the application, could “pollute underground water.”
The judgement said: “The proposed development would not be on land that is within a settlement or that has otherwise been identified for development.
“It is within a countryside area where opportunity for new development is to be more restricted.”
The reporter said the demand to meet housing need in South Angus had already been met by proposals previously agreed in the local development plan, including other sites on the west of the town at Pitskelly and the east at Carlogie.
“My conclusion is that the housing land supply is more than adequate to meet the five-year requirement and that, in terms of land supply, there is no need to permit housing development on the appeal site,” the report stated.
The judgement said there were also concerns about groundwater.
“Development proposals must not pollute underground water. I find that it has not been demonstrated that the proposed development – including the cemetery extension – would be acceptable in relation to protection of the groundwater environment.”
The unsuccessful appeal marks latest stage of a complex and prolonged fight surrounding competing housing and residential sites in the area.
A previous proposal relating to another part of the Pitskelly area was submitted by DJ Laing in July 2014 for a development of housing alongside an industrial estate, which was approved by councillors.
The rejected appeal suggested work was not proceeding quickly enough at the approved Pitskelly site, arguing the developer’s approach there was “tantamount to land-banking rather than delivery.”
The reporter found that not to be the case and summarised ongoing work at the approved Pitskelly site, including archaeological works.
Blackwood Development’s agent Rick Fink Associates declined to comment.
Developer David Laing said: “We are pleased by the outcome. It allows us to focus on delivering our major housing and business project.”
