Plans for new West Lothian village scrapped as appeal refused

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Plans to create a new village on farmland near Pumphertson have been rejected by the Scottish Government.The developer’s assertion that West Lothian Council had not provided enough land to build new homes on was branded as “out of date.”The Government’s Planning Appeals division (DPEA) dismissed appeals by Elan Homes / Amber REI (Agriculture) Ltd to build the £275million Drumshoreland Garden Community on the site of the Clapperton poultry farm east of Livingston.Under the application the farm would have been relocated elsewhere.The developers claimed the new community would be a low carbon development across 410 acres, with 450 affordable homes.Amber REI (Agriculture), which owns the site, said the money raised from the project could help fund a £150m investment in Scottish food and agriculture.But the Reporter who considered the appeal said the new community would have a “profound urbanising” effect on the area which is poorly served by public transport and narrow roads.The developers applied for planning permission in principle in 2020 looking to build 1,800 homes and 400 retail units and community facilities on 410 acres of land north of Old Clapperton Hall Cottages, East Calder.The council’s planning committee threw out the proposals last year, councillors branding them speculative.The developers had argued that the housing land supply in the county was insufficient and demand for the homes was there.

They had also argued that the land was unlikely to be used for agricultural purposes again.However, the Planning Reporter rejected this out of hand, David Buylla, suggesting the scale of the development plan would “prejudice” new planning guidance expected to be published before Christmas.The current Local Development