Monifieth town centre remains “economically fragile” and needs more investment, community councillors have warned.
They were responding to a consultation by Angus Council on its main issues report, which will feed into the creation of a new local development plan for homes and businesses.
The community council said they were concerned about the future of the town centre, despite recent improvements.
They said: “The lack of infrastructure means that Monifieth is already bursting at the seams, yet expansion is needed if the potential for shopping and tourism is to be realised and local employment prospects enhanced.
“Provision should be made for small industrial units and offices. Future development should aim to sustain a vibrant town centre.”
Angus Council should also take into account the results of recent M Factor community planning events, which were held to identify what residents felt was needed.
“Such needs include a community centre, enhancement of the seafront leisure facilities, a more accessible recycling centre and a cemetery. A masterplan approach incorporating a town centre strategy seems sensible when dealing with the future development of Monifieth.”
The Angus Council report has earmarked the Ashludie Hospital site and land beyond the town for housing development and there are varying opinions on how this should be progressed.
The community council said: “There appear to be mixed views as to the desirability of permitting development of the agricultural land to the North and North East of the existing town boundaries.
“In any event, the Ashludie Hospital site should have priority. Any development will have to take into account the lack of capacity at Monifieth High School and Monifieth Health Centre.
“Monifieth in particular has a shortage of social housing and affordable homes. Priority should be given to first time buyers and those seeking their first home.”
NHS Tayside said it would prefer that a masterplan for Ashludie be drawn up independently of any proposals for the long-term use of the greenfield land.
It said: “It is NHS Tayside’s view that the potential greenfield housing allocation to the North of Ashludie is a large site that will require a significant level of design work and further technical investigation.
“Its development will also have a greater impact on local services and infrastructure. Assessing and mitigating these impacts may take time.
“In order to avoid potential unnecessary delays to the promotion of Ashludie Hospital for redevelopment, NHS Tayside will resist any requirement to jointly masterplan the sites.”
It pointed out that TAYplan, which guides strategic development in Tayside, said brownfield sites should be prioritised over greenfield ones. Housebuilders Barratt have an interest in the land on the edge of the town.
They said: “The land to the North and East of Monifieth represents an ideal location for development which will attract high demand for housing, and being under the control of Barratt, the UK’s biggest housebuilder, the delivery of the approved masterplan and investment in the associated infrastructure is assured.
“Barratt are committed to working with NHS Tayside in incorporating Ashludie Hospital and its grounds into a long-term masterplan for the growth of a robust and sustainable community.”
Dundee City Council also took part in the consultation.
It said: “As the Angus local development plan will cover 2014-24, the estimated number of new homes required for the South Angus housing market area is 840 units. This number is acceptable as it is over a 10-year period
“The strategy for identifying additional sites should be to give priority to the reuse of brownfield land within existing settlements.”