296-home residential development at Catherinefield Farm, Dumfries

What was proposed

The application proposed 296 homes, access roads, pedestrian and active travel links, open space, play areas and the stopping-up of Catherinefield Road.

“Proposal 1.5 Permission is sought for a residential development of 296 dwellings to be laid out in the agricultural land enveloping the existing farm buildings. A principal vehicular access would be provided from the west extending Heathhall Road to the A701 and providing a primary route through the development leading to Catherinefield Road.”

“In terms of open space, there are areas to be protected and retained such as Catherinefield Moss, with measures proposed to protect the hydrology of the adjoining Moss. Access will also be discouraged to another area in the north of the site with a badger sett with a buffer of thorny scrub. Some areas of woodland in the north- western corner would also be retained with walking route created.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 15-hectare agricultural site lies on Dumfries’s north-eastern edge between Locharbriggs and Heathhall, beside Catherinefield Moss and existing development.

“The location of this proposal is on the north-eastern edge of the settlement boundary of Dumfries, some 4km from the town centre, and lies between the existing neighbourhoods of Locharbriggs and Heathhall. Access is available from the nearby A701 to the west and the unclassified Catherinefield Road which runs along the eastern edge and serves as the settlement boundary.”

“The site is irregularly shaped and gently undulating consisting of 15.Ha of predominantly agricultural land forming the Catherinefield Farm land holding and is used for grazing. The fields are bound by a combination of stone walls, hedges and post and wire fencing with occasional trees and the Catherinefield Moss Local Wildlife Site is on the southern edge of site containing a raised bog formed over a basin of peat with School Wood beyond to the south which is a…”

Officer report

Earlier applications and nearby development

Earlier submissions included a proposal notice and environmental screening, while the adjoining Curries Yard scheme was approved for 89 homes.

“Relevant Planning History 1.9 Prior to the lodging of this application, related submissions were received. A Proposal of Application Notice was made (23/2495/PAN) due to the proposal being a Major development. A request for screening opinion (24/1869/SCR), under the Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, was also received. It was determined that an EIA was not required for a development of the nature and scale proposed at this site.”

“21/1753/ARC - Curries Yard – detailed planning permission approved for 89 dwellinghouses on 3 February 2022. (Access for the current application site would be shared with the access for this development which has been implemented.) 25/0405/FUL - Land adjacent to Herries Avenue – erection of 38 dwellinghouses (allocated site to the south). Pending consideration.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The committee heard from three objectors and the applicant.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the legal agreement and report conditions, adding a requirement for future electric vehicle charging ducting.

“APPROVED application 24/2277/FUL subject to the successful completion of the appropriate legal agreement within 6 months of the date of the decision or such other reasonable extended timescale as agreed by the appointed officer and (B) conditions as detailed in the report with an additional Condition 19 “That no dwellinghouse hereby granted planning permission shall be occupied unless and until it has been fitted with appropriate ducting suitable for future installation of…”

Minutes