CAMPAIGNERS who have fought endlessly against controversial plans to build more than 600 homes in Paisley are celebrating after the proposal was thrown out by councillors in a shock move.
Planning chiefs had recommended permission be granted to a consortium of developers who wanted to build the properties on surplus land at Dykebar Hospital, despite admitting serious problems around biodiversity, roads and schools.
But in what has been described as an "unusual move", planning board convener Marie McGurk went against her staff during a crunch meeting yesterday and received unanimous support from elected members to turn down the proposal, the site of which was located within her Paisley Southeast ward.
READ MORE: PLANS to build new homes on lush hospital grounds move forward
Developers Cala, Barratt and Bellway Homes collectively branded the decision as "hugely disappointing" and said it suggested the council was "closed for business and growth".
But fierce opposition from the Save Paisley's Green Space group, a petition against the development signed by more than 800 people and 136 letters arguing it should be rejected eventually led councillors to concede it was an unacceptable proposal.
A spokeswoman for the Save Paisley’s Green Space group said: "We are pleased this application was unanimously refused by the communities, housing, and planning board members at their meeting.
"The board’s reasons for refusal have vindicated everything we have been saying and it is heartening the consortium’s proposal has been examined, found severely wanting and common sense has prevailed.
"We are under no illusion that the consortium will appeal this decision.”
Councillor Eileen McCartin, who also opposed the blueprint, said: "I was so pleased to see Marie move to refuse this. I think it's quite unusual for a convener to move against her staff, but this was clearly important to her as it's in her ward.
"There is simply no point in our council declaring it will create better conditions to tackle climate change, only to then accept proposals like this."
The planning department had argued 19 conditions would offset any trouble caused to local services by the development.
Developers had pledged to pump money into both Todholm Primary and St Andrew's Academy to create enough spaces to accommodate the additional families moving into the area.
Meanwhile, it had been decided felled trees would be replaced with focused replanting of several species and the impact on biodiversity throughout the green space would be countered with tree planting and inclusion of hedgerows to strengthen habitat corridors on the site.
The plot of land has also been included in the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan as an area for potential housing.
But Councillor McGurk said the application was simply not suitable for the 95-acre site off Grahamston Road.
She told elected members: "This is a major application in this area and we want to get it right if there is going to be something there and this application does none of that."
Commenting on behalf of the consortium of homebuilders, David Scott, managing director of Barratt West Scotland said: “This is a hugely disappointing decision for Paisley and Renfrewshire.
"The proposed development at Dykebar is an opportunity for the area to boost its economic recovery post-pandemic through an investment worth £150million. It would create new job opportunities and provide the 5,000 homes the council has identified are needed to attract new workers, while at the same time raising much-needed funds for the NHS through the sale of the unused land at Dykebar Hospital.
READ MORE: Plans for 600 homes on land at Dykebar Hospital in Paisley
“An independent economic impact assessment indicates the new homes at Dykebar will generate £18million per annum in household spend, with £7.3million spent in the local economy.
“In addition, the new households will generate more than £1.9million a year in council tax.
“The consortium has spent several years working with council officers to develop a sustainable proposal on land that is allocated for new homes. Renfrewshire Council is sending out the message it is closed for business and economic growth.
"The consortium will review its position and announce its next actions in due course."
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