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South Lanarkshire new town plan opposed by council planners South Lanarkshire 'Owenstown' new town plan rejected by councillors
(about 17 hours later)
Plans for an eco-friendly new town in South Lanarkshire are expected to be rejected by councillors. Plans for an eco-friendly new town in South Lanarkshire have been rejected by councillors.
Developers want to build the town - called Owenstown - near New Lanark, based on co-operative principles. Developers wanted to build the town - called Owenstown - near New Lanark, based on co-operative principles.
They said the £500m project would create more than 3,000 homes and up to 10,000 jobs.They said the £500m project would create more than 3,000 homes and up to 10,000 jobs.
Planning officials have recommended councillors reject the application because the site is unsuitable. Councillors unanimously accepted advice from planning officials who said the site was unsuitable.
The Owenstown project would cover 400 acres of a 2000 acre site near Rigside in the Douglas Valley. The Owenstown project would have covered 400 acres of a 2000 acre site near Rigside in the Douglas Valley.
Developers said it would not need public funding and have warned, if the scheme is blocked, they may take the project to another location outside Scotland. Developers, the Hometown Foundation, said the principle of Owenstown was based on social reformer Robert Owen's ideas at nearby New Lanark 200 years ago.
They said the town would be owned and managed on a co-operative basis by its residents and all surplus funds generated would be reinvested in the community.They said the town would be owned and managed on a co-operative basis by its residents and all surplus funds generated would be reinvested in the community.
The developers - the Hometown Foundation - said the principle of Owenstown is based on social reformer Robert Owen's ideas at nearby New Lanark 200 years ago. They planned a low carbon community with high energy efficiency, making use of renewable energy.
It would be a low carbon community with high energy efficiency, making use of renewable energy. But South Lanarkshire Council was told the development was contrary to planning policy at national, strategic and local level.
'Inappropriate site' It was rejected on a number of grounds:
The scheme was first announced nearly five years ago and the application for Planning Permission in Principle was submitted in November 2012. Michael McGlynn, head of planning and building standards, said: "It would fail to meet the over-arching objective of policy at all of those levels of encouraging sustainable economic growth and regeneration within an improved urban and rural environment.
Planning officials at South Lanarkshire Council have recommended refusal of the project. "The applicants have also failed to show that there is demand for the form and scale of development proposed at this location or provide any evidence that there is sufficient interest and demand to fulfil their aspirations."
A document they prepared said the scheme does not fit into the local development plan and concluded: "The concept of a new town, based on the co-operative principles described by the applicants, could be acceptable in the right location and under the right circumstances. The scheme was first announced nearly five years ago and the application for planning permission in principle was submitted in November 2012.
"Overall, however, it is concluded the site the subject of the application is inappropriate." The developers have previously said there was a groundswell of support for the project which would bring many social and economic benefits.
A spokesman for the developers said this was "in spite of the economic and social benefits it would bring, no substantial objections from a wide range of statutory bodies and a groundswell of support". They said that as well as homes, Owenstown would include office and commercial space, cafes, restaurants and shops, land and buildings for industry, as well as two new primary schools and one new secondary school.
South Lanarkshire Council's planning committee will hear the application on Tuesday morning and their recommendation will be considered by the full Council immediately afterwards. The Hometown Foundation now has the option of appealing to Scottish ministers. If that is also unsuccessful, they have said they may try to find another site in England, Wales or Ireland.
The developers said that, as well as the homes, there would be office and commercial space, cafes, restaurants and shops, land and buildings for industry, as well as two new primary schools and one new secondary school.
The Hometown Foundation also wants to create a technology and innovation centre in Owenstown to develop new ideas to harness the potential of emerging technologies and secure sustainable employment.
If the planning application is turned down, the trustees of the scheme are likely to appeal the decision to Scottish Ministers. If that is also unsuccessful, they have said they may try to find another site in England, Wales or Ireland.