Controversial Carnoustie housing proposals have been reignited with a developer’s notice of a bid to press ahead with plans for a site on the east of the town.
Late last year the land allocation at Carlogie was removed by Angus councillors in an unexpected turn of events just ahead of a special meeting which then approved a 250-house/business park proposal for Pitskelly Farm on the opposite edge of the town.
That decision is now the subject of a judicial review which is yet be to heard, but legal experts have warned Angus Council that the authority could be taking a £100,000 gamble in the Court of Session matter.
The Carlogie plan partners, Angus Estates and Muir Homes, have confirmed to The Courier their plans to progress their already consented business park on the east of Carlogie road and the lodging of a proposal of application notice for housing on the west of the approach to the town.
Carlogie Business Park was consented in 2014 and comprises 40 acres of employment land for business, industrial and storage uses.
The partners said planning conditions will now be discharged over the summer along with marketing of the site, focused on supporting local businesses in the town that wish to expand or new, local ventures that require land or premises.
A spokesman for Angus Estates and Muir Homes said they were determined to progress the housing project west of Carlogie Road, it having been recommended by planning officers as a residential site in the emerging local development plan.
“In the interest of creating certainty over future housing land in Carnoustie, Angus Estates and Muir Homes have commenced the planning process through the submission of a proposal of application notice,” they said.
“This process notifies the community of the intention to progress a planning application and starts the consultation process,” they said.
“We are determined to invest in Carnoustie through providing land to support the growth of local businesses and meet future housing needs.
“Consistent with Angus Council’s own technical assessments, land at Carlogie is the most suitable location for such development.
“Carlogie Business Park is an ideal location for local businesses that are looking for new premises, and we are working through a range of options to support such initiatives.
“This is consistent with feedback on the charrette process for new business space and we welcome any thoughts on how the business park can support local businesses.
“Starting the consultation process on the housing project is intended to help shape the project through community feedback and we will shortly announce dates for the public exhibition.
“The site emerged as the technically preferred location for new housing through the council’s preparatory work on the new Angus local development plan, and this consultation exercise is intended to enable the community to inform the proposed layout, uses and integration with the town.”
The spokesman added: “Our preference was to undertake this work after the adoption of the new local development plan.
“However, the events of December 2014 resulted in the Pitskelly new settlement project being granted planning consent.
“This runs counter to technical studies for new housing land in Carnoustie and the TayPlan strategy, and has resulted in a judicial review of the decision. In the interest of creating certainty over future housing land in Carnoustie we have therefore accelerated our plans for housing on this ideal housing site, west of Carlogie road.”