Good question – we tend to think that this application is just about the proposal to build houses on the southern part of the site. T

he application merely falls in line with the Development Requirements by outlining four plots on the northern part of the Site Plan. 

HALL says that this is totally inadequate.  

If, as the application must imply, the applicant believes that  a change of permitted use to residential development is in line with the development plan there is absolutely no reason to just outline four plots without providing plans and elevations of the proposed houses. 

This part of the site is in a landmark position and if permission was granted to build there the design of the houses should be open to public scrutiny and comment, not subject to powers reserved to planning officers.  The Development Requirements specifies a “maximum of four”. The actual number will depend on the spatial layout being sympathetic to the location.  For this reason alone the application should be refused. 

HALL also notes that access to the whole site cannot be gained from Manse Crescent or Old Bridge of Weir Road.  It follows therefore that if this part of the site is to be developed it would have to be before the southern part of the site.