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kilmacolm 2012
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Kilmacolm – Port Glasgow Road: former Quarry

Background

7.439  This irregularly  shaped  site  extends to 0.6ha  and is located  immediately beyond the built-up area at the entrance to Kilmacolm on the north east side of Port Glasgow Road. Much of it was previously a stone quarry, but the north west corner contains some trees.  Until recently the quarry floor also contained many young trees and shrubs.  The south eastern part of the site is within the settlement boundary; it is open ground in front  of  a detached house  'Marchfield'  which,  together with its neighbour 'Torbank', is set well back from Port Glasgow Road.  On the other side of the road, grazing land falls away to the former railway line (now a cycle track). To the north west and north, a minor road leads up to the village cemetery.  To the north east is further grazing land.

  • 7.440  2 outline  applications for the erection of 3 dwellinghouses and garages  have been refused by the council in recent times.  The first was taken to appeal, which was dismissed in May 2002 (P/PPA/280/43).  In reaching his decision, the Reporter made the following relevant comments:
  • "23.     As the site of a former quarry, the appeal site meets the definition of a brownfield site which  is  set out  in  NPPG  3,  i.e.  it  is  a site which  has previously been developed  or  used  for some purpose  which has  ceased. However, quarrying normally takes place outwith settlement boundaries, and I do  not  consider  therefore that the  redevelopment of former quarries for housing would always be an appropriate use.
  • 24.      Here, the built-up area of Kilmacolm has now extended right up to the edge of the quarry site. This location, together with its position contained within 2 public roads, would support  its development as an extension  to  the built-up area; and its accessibility to the village centre and bus routes, and its sheltered south-facing position offer advantages in terms of sustainability. On the other hand,  the site  also  serves  to provide  a relatively  strong landscaped edge to the settlement.  This is due to the fairly dense vegetative cover which has re-colonised the quarry floor, together with the site's position immediately before a bend in  the A761.  This enables the village to be  hidden  from  the view of those approaching Kilmacolm on this road.
  • 25.      In these  circumstances, I consider that the appeal site  in  its present condition  does  serve   a   useful  function,   and I  find  that the  proposed development  would have an adverse  impact  on  the landscape  setting of Kilmacolm. In the event of a need being identified for further land for housing development to be released in Kilmacolm, I agree that the comparative merits of  this site would  have  to  be  assessed  along with those  of  other sites. However, that would be a matter to be resolved through the local plan process, rather than through an individual planning application or appeal.
  • 26.  Drawing these findings together, therefore, my final conclusions  are that the suitability of the site as an extension to the village is not so great as to justify   granting outline  planning   permission  for   this  proposed  housing development in the  green belt,  which would  be  contrary  to  the relevant provisions  of  the development  plan, and  would not  be  supported by the relevant provisions of the emerging local plan."
  • The second application was also refused by the council in January 2004.
  • Read more about the Former Quarry here...
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