The depute convener of Dundee City Council’s development management committee has called for change to the way planning matters are decided following Monday’s Dundee Western Gateway vote fiasco.
Amid scenes described as “bizarre”, councillors rejected one half of the application linked to a range of new community facilities, but approved another limited almost entirely to housing.
Councillor Jimmy Black has called into question the committee’s methodology and said he will take it up with council officers and his colleagues.
One of his proposals is for the committee to be reduced in size and involve only those councillors who specialise in development management and have time to do the job properly.
He also suggests the use of technology to allow councillors and the public to see and hear exactly what is going on at meetings.
Mr Black said he couldn’t believe the committee had turned down “£150 million of investment, 100% local labour and 595 brand new houses” and added that he could not blame Springfield if they took their investment elsewhere.
Noting that the city council has been promoting the Western Gateway for many years, he said: “We had a proposal from Springfield Properties to invest a huge amount of money, and their confidence, in our city.
“Grilled at the committee, they gave good answers to all the questions thrown at them and it was clear that a considerable amount of preparatory work had been done by the developer and the council’s planning department.
“There were to be shops and a community hall, a village green, a playpark and a football pitch. Roads had already been improved (by the city council) and the developer would sort out the roundabout at the Swallow to avoid congestion on the main road into Dundee.
“There was capacity for children at Ardler Primary and Baldragon Academy. Baldragon will of course be in a brand-new building before long and Ardler Primary is right in the heart of a very successful and attractive community.
“There would be a school bus.
“And what did we do? We turned down one half of the development.”
He said he found it hard to fathom why Councillor Ian Borthwick proposed refusal of both parts of this development, and equally hard to fathom why so many councillors supported him.
He said: “I can only hope they (Springfield) appeal this daftest of daft decisions, win and build their attractive new village.
“But I wouldn’t blame them if they took their investment elsewhere.”