Any hearing into a planned major housing project on the site of the former Strathmartine Hospital site will not be held until the autumn.
As fire crews were again this week called to the grounds of the former asylum badly damaged by fire in April, the timetable has emerged for the Scottish government’s call-in procedure over proposals for over 200 new homes on the sprawling site.
Developer Heathfield Ltd’s proposal for conversion of the B-listed main building into 24 flats and 198 new homes in the hospital grounds was called in after a special Angus Council meeting late last year voted to give the multi-million pound project the go-ahead.
Key players in the matter are now working towards a June 19 deadline relating to call-in submissions and although there is no guarantee that the Strathmartine bid will go to inquiry, the applicants and interested parties have been advised that any hearing would not take place until August or September.
Scottish ministers reporter Allison Coard has carried out a Strathmartine site inspection but has now requested further written submissions from the applicant, as well as Angus and Dundee City Councils.
The Scottish government’s planning and environmental appeals directorate has sought confirmation by June 19 from the parties over whether they are content with submissions already made in respect of the Strathmartine bid.
Further written submissions must then be made by July 3.
In a letter to the parties, a DPEA case officer said: “The reporter considers the additional written submissions requested should be sufficient to complete her report to Ministers.
“However, should further clarification/discussion be requiredadvance notice is given of a potential hearing to be held on August 27. A reserve date of September 8 is also suggested.
“If a hearing is not required than a further period of two weeks will be given for relevant parties to respond to any opposing statements after which the reported will proceed to finalise her report.”
The request for further written submissions relate to matters including the local development plan, sustainable development, housing land supply and any potential impact on secondary education provision in Forfar.