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A new reporter has been appointed to determine an appeal against Renfrewshire Council’s decision to reject plans for 33 homes in Bridge of Weir.
The case has been allocated to Declan King after it emerged the official previously assigned had an “indirect connection” to someone representing residents opposing the proposed development.
James (Glasgow) Ltd, a company that lists Rangers hero Ally McCoist and Jeffrey East as directors, was denied planning permission for 10 houses and 23 flats in Thriplee Road earlier this year.
Planners had recommended approving the proposal – which prompted hundreds of objections – subject to conditions and a legal agreement to secure commitments like an education contribution.
But it was refused by the planning and climate change policy board in May, with SNP council leader Iain Nicolson arguing the “flatted element” would be “incongruous” with the surrounding uses and landscape.
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However, McInally Associates, working on behalf of the applicant, challenged the ruling to ministers in August and said it felt the board’s rejection was “unjustifiable”.
It claimed: “The planning and climate change policy board’s reason for refusal is not supported by any objection from the identified statutory consultees, any contrary technical assessment, any identified conflict with the Renfrewshire LDP/NPF4 or the recommendation of its own professional planning officers.
“In these circumstances, the reason for refusal cannot reasonably be sustained.”
Porter Planning issued a response on behalf of the local authority in September, setting out its case for snubbing the application.
It said: “The council considers that the three flatted blocks do not respond sufficiently to the immediate lower-scale context around Thriplee and Carruth Road, particularly when their massing is considered together with the site’s elevation and changing levels.
“That same concern informs the local visual relationship and the proposal’s interface with the Ranfurly Conservation Area.”
The reporter initially appointed was formally replaced on Friday, October 23, because her husband knew the agent for a residents’ group called the Hammerhead Trust.
An update on Friday, October 9, explained: “The reporter allocated to the case, Ailie Callan, has an indirect connection to John Russell, the agent for the Hammerhead Trust.
“Mr Russell is a friend and ex-colleague of the reporter’s husband, but is not known to the reporter.”
While the Scottish Government’s planning and environmental appeals division (DPEA) did not expect “any issue arising in terms of perception of bias,” it confirmed on Monday, October 12, concerns had been raised and she would not determine the appeal.
Earlier this year, it became evident the applicant had cut the number of homes in the plans from 38 to 33 as it bid to get the project over the line.
The latest version detailed an intention to build four detached houses, six semi-detached houses and 23 flats split into three individual blocks.
A total of 395 objections were lodged in response to the plans – covering issues such as the impact on biodiversity, additional traffic and the effect on infrastructure – while 63 were submitted in support.
The target date set by the DPEA remains Tuesday, November 3.