PLANS for a children’s nursery on Islay have been approved by council officers, more than 18 months after they were first submitted.
South Islay Development’s proposal for land adjacent to the Ramsay Memorial Hall, in Port Ellen, has been approved after Argyll and Bute Council officials sought more detail about traffic and parking arrangements.
No representations were received from the public during the planning process, and the authority has now awarded planning permission.
An officer said in a handling report: “Argyll and Bute Council area roads officer originally sought the submission of further information by way of a plan identifying a safe pedestrian route between the public road and the proposed children’s nursery as well as details on staffing and pupil numbers.
“The officer noted that the site is located on a private road off the A846 road within a 30mph restriction. The response identifies that the general impact of the development is acceptable.
“Sightlines, drainage SUDs provision and turning facilities are noted as acceptable. The response previously sought clarification on parking allocation across the wider site.
“The applicant has since submitted a parking explanation confirming that the wider site contains 22 spaces, comprising existing and proposed provision, including accessible spaces and EV charging points.
“The applicant advises that the parking arrangement provides for the nursery, Ramsay Hall and pavilion/community uses with peak nursery drop-off/pick-up periods not expected to coincide materially with weekend use of the pitch and hall.”
The report added: “The nearest residential properties are located to the east of the application site and are separated from the proposed nursery by existing roads, landscaping and community development.
“Given these separation distances, the modest single-storey scale of the building and the orientation of the external play areas, it is not considered that the proposal would result in unacceptable overlooking, overshadowing or loss of privacy.
“Having carefully considered the proposal against the statutory development plan and all other material considerations, the planning authority is satisfied that the proposed nursery represents sustainable development within the Port Ellen settlement area.
“Whilst the proposal results in the redevelopment of a limited area within the North Bay Playing Fields open space protection area, the assessment has demonstrated that this land performs only a limited recreational function within the wider designation and that the proposal would not prejudice the continued operation, accessibility or recreational value of the wider playing fields. It is recommended that planning permission be granted.”
