Community councillors have mounted a fresh demand for a call-in of the controversial 224-house redevelopment of the former Strathmartine Hospital site.
Late last year a special meeting of Angus Council approved a development company’s plan for the conversion of the B-listed hospital block into 24 flats and the creation of 198 new-build homes on the sprawling site.
The Strathmartine site was allocated for 40 homes in the Angus plan but applicants Heathfield Ltd told councillors such a small number would make redevelopment economically impossible.
The decision of councillors to go against the refusal recommendation enraged locals but, with Dundee City Council having officially objected to the Heathfield plan, its approval by Angus must be notified to Scottish ministers and community leaders have urged communities cabinet secretary Alex Neil to call in the bid and consider blocking the go-ahead.
Strathmartine Community Council secretary Duncan McCabe said: “The conversion of the B-listed building is to be welcomed but not at the expense of the entire community.
“It is the failure of the developer to adequately secure the listed building over the last decade which has allowed excessive deterioration in its condition.
“This practice of allowing important buildings and sites to decay in the hope of forcing through inappropriate and unsustainable developments contrary to the provisions of local plans is unacceptable and has negative implications for planning across Scotland,” he added.
The SCC objection being sent to Mr Neil also raises issues over traffic volumes and education.
In a report to councillors this week on the planning obligations to be attached to the Strathmartine scheme, Angus head of planning and place Vivien Smith said the legal requirement will include an affordable housing contribution of just over £1 million and education contributions totalling more than £2.3m a staged contribution of £5,660 per unit towards addressing capacity issues at Strathmartine primary and £5,100 per house to meet the secondary school capacity impact on Forfar Academy.
NHS Tayside received £1.5m in 2003 from the sale of the site, but will also receive a percentage from the sale of homes over the 40-unit local plan allocation.
The clawback windfall hinges on the deal going through before 2018 and could reap anything from £1m to £14.5m, with an anticipated figure of around £5m.