There is a lot of disinformation in circulation on this subject.  It is both.

 The site is “open space”. 

The first point is that the land is defined as “open space by the Scottish Planning Policy 11. “open space is a term which includes greenspace consisting of any vegetated land within and on the edges of settlements”.  It can also include allotments, trees, woodland, paths and civic areas such as squares, market places, and paved or hard landscaped areas. 

The site is within the area marked as H1 on the Local Plan Proposal Map B.  

In fact most of the Houston Settlement is.  The exceptions are the areas along side the River Gryffe and Locher Water and 4 larger playing field areas. 

The site is also designated as Open Space L4 

By default Open Space which is not marked on the Proposal Map is given the designation L4 – Lesser Open Space.  The Local Plan says that the reason that they are not shown is because (we assume for sake of clarity) that they are “not of a scale to be shown on the Proposal Map”. 

There is no doubt that the site is designated as Open Space L4. 

The Council have confirmed on a number of occasions that the site is designated as Open Space L4.  The Chief Executive did so in writing to HALL on 22 November 2007 and the Planning Officer did so at  a recent meeting with HALL. 

Open space L4 has similar protections to other categories of open space. 

The development plan recognises that it is important to protect Open Space L4 .  All open space can in theory be developed for purposes other than open space – but there are criteria which have to be met. 

SPP11 refers to all open space 

SPP11 was issued by the Scottish Government in November 2007 and provides for all open space protected by the Local Plan. 

The site could have been designated as H3 – Housing Opportunity Site. 

If the Council had intended this site to be a residential development is could have designated it under H3 when the Local Plan was adopted in March 2006.  They didn’t. 

There can be no doubt the application is contrary to the development plan. 

If the application was not contrary to it the development plan would permit residential development on open space which is high density and out of keeping with the adjoining developments.  The development plan specifically prevents this.  It would permit development which is detrimental to local amenity, the development plan specifically prevents this.  It would allow new development where the development plan programme identifies no requirement.  It would permit unplanned development which would require connection to a failing sewer system.  It would also be against National Planning Guidelines and Policies.