A FORMER garage site in Ecclefechan which has been lying vacant for years could be used for a housing development.
Councillors are keen to see the eyesore site brought back into use – but there are concerns that the land may be contaminated.
L Murray Properties own the spot, which is near to Ecclefechan Surgery and used to house Cook’s Garage years ago.
The Ecclefechan-based construction company is keen to build a single-storey, one bedroom house on it, but were forced to launch an appeal after Dumfries and Galloway Council officers blocked the move in July last year.
The matter was raised at the council’s local review body last week where councillors were swayed towards overturning the planning officer’s decision in order to bring the eyesore site back into use.
Annandale South Councillor Ian Carruthers said: “I would like to see this approved, primarily because it would tidy up this place, and it would benefit our housing stock.
“It is, for the developer, good for the local economy.”
Annandale East and Eskdale Councillor Archie Dryburgh, chairman of the local review body, was also leaning towards approving the application and sought guidance from council officials.
But senior planner Robert Duncan brought up an unexpected issue.
He said: “There’s a risk of contamination at this site, and my advice to members would be that if they’re minding to grant planning permission they should first issue a procedure notice to seek advice from the council’s contaminated land officer – as a precaution.
“And then ascertain whether further information would be sought from the applicant, such as a contaminated land assessment.”
He added: “If it suffers from bad contamination, it can be tantamount to refusal of the application if the condition can’t be discharged.”
The planning application was originally rejected as the case officer argued that the building of the house would lead to an “inappropriate backland development”, and that the house footprint and car parking provision would result in “overdevelopment” of the area.
Architect Homer Young challenged the council planning arguments and lodged an appeal which appeared to persuade councillors to give the new house the thumbs up.
However, due to the contamination risk issue, members have now delayed any decision until they receive a report from their contamination officer. The matter will then be brought back to local review body in the coming months.
