Victory for greenbelt supporters

A controversial plan to build hundreds of new homes on greenbelt land near Airdrie has been kicked out by North Lanarkshre councillors.

- ROSS THOMSON

The massive Orchard Brae development, which proposed to build almost 1000 new homes on the Europark site, adjacent to Eurocentral, went before councillors on Thursday.

North Lanarkshire Council planners advised the 244-hectare plan should be rejected, with councillors voting to knock back the application, with 42 against and 18 supporters backing it.

The council report stated: “It is acknowledged that the proposal has some benefits, but the need for additional housing land and the justification provided for the employment land are not accepted, and it is considered that the employment and economic benefits are likely to be substantially less than the applicant estimates.

“The benefits of the proposal are, therefore, not considered to be sufficient to justify such a significant departure from the development plan, and for this reason it is recommended that planning permission in principle should be refused.

“The proposal is contrary to National Planning Framework and to North Lanarkshire Local Development Plan Policies.