Huge housing plan given green light

Dec 22 2008 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

RESIDENTS were left “devastated” after councillors gave the green light for a major development in Bishopton.

The development of the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) site in Bishopton has been met with fierce protest from locals.

More than 2,000 letters of objection have been received by Renfrewshire Council since the plan was first mooted years ago.

BAE Systems and Redrow Homes want to build more than 2,500 homes, a business park, community woodland park and community facilities on the 10 acre area, one of the largest brownfield sites in Europe.

It is expected that completing the development is likely to take around 20 years.

And councillors have approved the first stage of the planning process by granting outline planning consent.

Several residents and members of Bishopton Action Group were at the meeting to hear the news.

Jeanette Waller said she and her fellow campaigners were devastated.

“The councillors have totally disregarded the views of the majority of people living in Bishopton,” she told the Paisley Daily Express.

“I thought they would have taken more cognisance of the residents’ views.

“I’m totally shocked. We’re devastated with this result.

“But this is not the end of the campaign, we’re still going to carry on fighting this.”

Campaigners are worried about the contamination of the site and the impact the development will have on the village.

SNP Councillor Bruce McFee, member for the Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch ward, opposed the plan.

But his motion to reject it was defeated by 10 votes to two.

He said: “I think there has been some serious lobbying behind the scenes to get this proposal put through.

“I’ve been on the planning board for 16 years and I’ve never seen an application with so many conditions be approved.

“What has been approved is the outline planning of a massive housing development in the Bishopton area to the detriment of the existing community.

“This is a situation where the next generation will look back on and say ‘why the hell did you let this happen?’”

Convener of Renfrewshire’s planning board, Councillor Iain Nicolson, defended the decision, saying more detailed planning applications have still to be considered.

He added: “However, if all the stringent conditions we will apply are fulfilled, this development has the potential to significantly boost the local and regional economy, provide housing for people who want to live in the area, deal with remediation of contaminated land and act as a driver for business growth.

“All the various economic, environmental, community impact and transport issues have been studied and consulted on in extensive detail.

“I know there has been much discussion on the issue of contamination.

“It should be pointed out that the independent report of an Examination in Public (EIP) in 2007 found that ‘there is no contamination on the ROF site that raises issues of sufficient concern to preclude identifying Bishopton as a community growth area’.”

Added Councillor Nicolson: “The planning process has a specific remit to address decontamination and remediation issues.

“I can assure the community of Bishopton all the statutory bodies involved will ensure all works carried out on the site are fully monitored by the relevant agency.”

Detailed planning consent was granted for a motorway junction off the A8/M8 at Bishopton, to allow for the new development.