Plan for extra homes greeted with dismay

THE addition of 70 houses to the mass expansion of Kirkliston has been greeted with dismay by villagers already fearful of their community being doubled in size.

Residents had hoped for a community resource such as allotments or a playground to be placed on a two- hectare site within the 610-unit development, but instead have been told they are to get more houses.

Developer The Kirkliston Consortium, which includes the Livingston-based house-builder Walker Group, was granted approval for a massive expansion of the village back in 2008 and work has already started on developing the site near to Queensferry Road.

After plans for a new school on the site were dropped, residents began submitting alternative uses for the plot.

Now their hopes have been dashed as The Kirkliston Consortium’s application to remove a condition restricting the development to 610 homes has been granted. Instead, a condition limiting the build to 680 has been imposed. Dozens of residents objected to the original scheme, which they said would overdevelop the area and mean Kirkliston would lose its village status.

Kirkliston Community Council chairman Steve Lee said: “This development will double the size of the village and this is now just the cherry on top.

“Kirkliston is to go from being a wee village with character to just a sprawling housing estate. All along our views have been dismissed by Edinburgh council – why should this have been any different?”

Graeme Patrick, strategic land director at the Walker Group, said: “We would have been more than happy to erect a new school on the site. However, the council and community council decided to refurbish the existing one.

“This site was zoned for residential development in the Local Plan and is surrounded by housing on all four sides, so it makes sense to place further housing there.”

A council spokesman added: “As the surrounding area is being developed for ho using, it is felt this is the best use for the site. The new homes will go towards meeting the 1000 extra houses needed on the west side of the city.

“The community council suggested options, such as a new nursery school, allotments, care home, parkland and community garden, but this information did not include details of funding or maintenance.”