A HUGE affordable housing development in Eastriggs that has been six years in the making is likely to be rubber stamped next week.
Dozens of families could get the keys to a brand new home under Cunninghame Housing Association’s (CHA) plans to construct 74 properties on land at Stanfield Farm.
The social housing landlord intends on building a mix of one to five bedroom houses on the agricultural site – and Dumfries and Galloway Council planning officers are backing the move.
With no objections from public bodies or nearby residents, it is now down to councillors to have the final say at a meeting next week.
Planning officer Chris McTeir has recommended that the development is approved, and produced a report stating that land has been designated for mixed use and housing development.
He wrote: “The proposed housing units are a mix of one to five bedroom, one, one-and-a-half, and two storey terraced and semi-detached blocks.
“The buildings would be finished in a modern contemporary style with a mix of red and buff smooth facing brick with some
contrasting feature panels depending on the house type.
“The roofs will be finished with dark grey concrete tiles, with fascias and rainwater goods in black uPVC. Double glazed uPVC windows and doors are dark grey.”
The report confirmed that there are no objetions from the council’s roads officer, flood risk management team, archaeologists, or Scottish Water.
There were also no representations made by members of the public, paving a clearer path to the development going ahead.
CHA has a strong track record of building quality homes for social rent in the region, having delivered developments including Hallmeadow in Annan and the former Halcrow greyhound stadium site in Gretna.
The organisation first announced the Stanfield Farm development on its website 18 months ago, stating: “We acquired this land in March 2017 with a view to 70 new homes being delivered on the site. We are close to resolving the existing drainage issues at this site and hope to move forward with planning approval.”
A small area to the north-east of the site is vulnerable to surface water flooding, but the planning report states that a flood risk assessment was completed and council officers have no objections.
If the development gets the green light, a new vehicle access route will be created, along with 169 parking spaces for the residents and visitors.
