A GROUP of councillors have visited a site in Terregles to decide whether or not to grant the landowner permission to build a new house.
Members of the council’s planning committee could not make their mind up over Lloyd Gemmell’s application to construct a one-and-half storey house with integral garage on land in the Mainshead area.
With stiff opposition to the house building project from neighbours and a few unanswered questions, councillors opted to see the plot themselves on Friday.
Mr Gemmell hopes to build the property between two houses on a slope, and it would also require the formation of access onto the C14N public road.
Issues around access, noise, overlooking neighbouring properties, a loss of light, and drainage are among the concerns raised by householders currently living in the area.
The fact that land will have to be raised – above what was originally agreed – is also a main issue. Terregles Community Council and eight other individuals have lodged objections to the house building plans.
However, neither the council roads officer, flood risk management team, or Scottish Water have any issues with the proposals, and the planning case officer Philip Glennon has recommended approval.
Mr Glennon insisted that there are “no relevant site constraints”.
Terregles Community Council’s secretary submitted a letter to the council stating that support was previously given for development on this site. However, this most recent planning application “seeks to disregard” certain conditions that were agreed back in 2017.
Meanwhile, the objection from the householder at Ladywell House reads: “The size of this property will significantly overshadow Ladywell House and my upstairs accommodation considerably.”
Councillors will make a decision at this week’s committee.
