Four single-storey homes at Land To North-West Of Coconut Cottage, Corsock, Castle Douglas

What was proposed

Planning permission in principle was sought for four houses, with two new road accesses and a sewage treatment plant.

“The application site (0.35ha) is an agricultural field (rough grazing) with stone dyke wall boundaries. that lies on north-western edge of village of Corsock. It has a dual road frontage (A712 and C117S – Moniaive road) and slopes down to the C117s. The south-eastern boundary bounds onto Coconut Cottage and its garden with Chestnut Cottage. To the north-western boundary is a dwellinghouse known as Kilgara with steading / shed beyond and woodland (Birch Wood).”

“The application is for planning permission in principle for 4 dwellinghouses to be served via 2 new accesses, one off the A712 (serving Plots 1 and 2) and the other off the C117s (serving Plots 3 and 4) with foul drainage identified as sewage treatment plant in northern corner. Indicative Massing models have been provided for single storey dwellinghouses and detached garages.”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no recent or relevant planning history, although the site had previously been identified for four to six homes.

“PUBLIC PUBLIC 1.5 There is no recent or relevant planning history relating to the site. [NB - This site had been identified as a housing site ST-10 Land North of Meadowbank (4-6 units) in the previous LDP when Inset Maps were provided for identified villages.]”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the proposal was considered compliant with development-plan policies and no material considerations outweighed that conclusion.

“Principle of Development 4.4 Corsock is categorised as a Village in LDP2 therefore the principle of dwellinghouses at this location falls to be considered against LDP2 Policy H2 - Housing Development in Villages.”

“Conclusion 4.22 In conclusion, the proposal is considered to be compliant with the provisions of the stated Development Plan Policies and as there are no material considerations which override the presumption in favour of a determination in accordance with the terms of the development plan, it is recommended that this proposal be approved subject to conditions listed below…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Roads officers and Scottish Water raised no objections subject to conditions, including access, visibility and private wastewater arrangements.

“Council Roads Team – No objections subject to conditions (a) Advice for A712 The proposed access off the A712 lies just within the 30mph speed restricted area of Corsock village. The access should be formed so as to be 5m wide for the first 5m from the public road carriageway edge, with 4m radius curves. The access should be trapped and drained to an outfall or soakaway and surfaced in bituminous materials for the first 5m from the public road carriageway edge.”

“The C117s at the location of the proposed access is locally restricted in width and as such it would be appropriate that the development site be served via a 5m wide access taken from the rear of a double service layby, 2.5m deep and measuring 15m along the back. The access should be trapped and drained to an outfall or soakaway and surfaced in bituminous materials for the first 5m from the public road carriageway edge.”

Officer report

Objections from residents

Eight objections raised concerns about village character, traffic, privacy, overshadowing, lighting, drainage, biodiversity and wildlife surveys.

“The grounds of objection received can be summarised as follows:- (a) The back-to-back plots would be out of keeping with the character of village which in main is well established, detached and on individual plots. With additional roads and driveways this type of development is not in keeping style of a remote rural village. Consider site is too small for 4 houses.”

“Other non-planning issues were raised including: existing traffic / speeding issues; disruption and noise during construction; accessibility to septic tank in field; water supply pipe; and request for developer to join water main on Moniaive road not Kilgara pipe. Other concerns raised related to factual errors in planning statement.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the agent.

Committee decision

The committee approved the application subject to the report’s conditions and agreed that future applications for the site would return to the committee.

“APPROVED application 25/2136/PIP subject to conditions as detailed in the report and FURTHER AGREED that any future applications at this site be brought back to this Committee for determination.”

Minutes