Controversial housing development approved

A COMMUNITY council has won a planning battle to build four new modern homes on the edge of Closeburn village.

The group and its partner organisation, Nith Valley Leaf Trust, has been given the thumbs up from councillors for a community-led development initiative.

They will build four energy efficient properties, which will be modelled on the Passivhaus style buildings they previously constructed in Closeburn several years ago.

The development would see four houses built on a brownfield site — currently occupied by a number of single-storey garages and outbuildings — to the west of Firmuir Avenue.

With significant opposition to the plans from local residents, the planning application went before Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning commitee last week.

Mike Steele, a member of both the community council and the trust, said: “We have consulted widely in the community.

“Our ethos and our aim is to provide affordable, energy efficient homes for young people, particularly families. They will be for rent.”

He explained that Nith Valley Leaf Trust already owns five houses – three of them are award-winning Passivhaus Project properties.

Mr Steele added: “These houses will reflect that sort of style. In my opinion, they would reflect a modern version of our village.

“The people who live in our current houses find them very cheap to run, and they are very nice homes.”

Sixteen objections had been lodged with the council raising concerns about parking, drainage, the height and design of the proposed buildings, and the impact on residential amenity.

Objector Neil Williamson told the planning committee: “There is much concern within the village that this development has been progressed without the support of the community.

“It is clearly an architect-led design, but does not reflect what people in a community want.”

He then underlined various planning issues including an under-provision of parking, and that the proposal “is not in keeping with the character of the area”.

Mr Williamson continued: “The community would prefer a development that incorporates some of the traditional features, building should be aligned with the road, and set back from the pavement edge.

“Contrary to the planning statement, there does not appear to have been significant engagement with the community.”

Despite the concerns raised, councillors agreed to approve the application.