COUNCIL officials have recommended planning permission for an eight-home development in Lochgair – despite 35 objections.
MacLeod Construction Ltd’s plans for the site east of Knock Farmhouse will be ruled upon by councillors at a meeting next week.
Objectors have raised concerns on a number of aspects, including accessibility and road matters, but Argyll and Bute Council officers have said that statutory consultees are satisfied, subject to conditions.
Six neutral representations have also been received by the council during the planning process, ahead of the meeting of its planning, protective services and licensing committee on Wednesday, December 17.
One of the representations has come from Councillor Douglas Philand (Independent, Mid Argyll), who has requested a public hearing. Councillor Philand is a member of the committee.
But the official added that there was, in the view of officers, no requirement to stage a hearing, although the committee could decide to hold one.
A council officer said in a handling report: “This is a housing allocation which has been considered through the Local Development Plan process. The scale of the development is therefore considered to be acceptable.
“It should be noted that this application seeks permission for the erection of eight dwellings. Consideration of any additional housing would be subject to separate planning permissions of which the acceptability of those schemes would be considered under those applications.
“No objections have been received from the statutory consultees on road safety matters subject to the imposition of planning conditions.
“Regarding the pedestrian link to Upper Lochgair road, this would subject to a separate planning application for detailed planning permission.
“This application is for eight dwellings and does not include provision of a playpark. The application is being considered on the details put forward and not therefore on future development which would be subject to their own scrutiny through separate planning applications.”
The officer added that a public hearing would not add value to the planning process, and that planning permission should be granted.
