Rural dwellinghouse at Land 190M North Of Forthview, Blackhill Road, Forth, Lanark

“Description of Proposed Development 3.1. Planning permission in principle is sought for the erection of a detached dwellinghouse. No detailed house design, elevations, floor plans, external materials or finished floor levels have been submitted. These matters would normally be capable of being considered through an application for matters specified in conditions if the principle of development were acceptable.”

“The supporting statement describes the proposal as a detached single storey dwellinghouse located to the rear of the yard area, adjoining the existing pond and western tree belt. Access would be taken from a new spur from the existing access serving the engineering business, and three on-site parking spaces are shown.”

“Site Description 2.1. The application site is located in the rural area to the north of a cluster of dwellings on Blackhill Road, east of Forth. It is accessed from Blackhill Road by an existing private access road which also serves two dwellings, including Forthview. The proposed dwelling would be located within land associated with an existing agricultural engineering business.”

“The wider site includes workshops, yard areas, containers, machinery, vehicle parts, tyres, engines, vehicle chassis, building materials and a pond. The supporting statement confirms that the site is actively used in connection with the applicant’s agricultural engineering business, including for the storage of vehicle parts and other sundries. The site is enclosed to a significant extent by mature trees and woodland belts and is set within an otherwise rural landscape.”

“The previous application above was refused in March 2024 and related to a dwellinghouse within the applicant’s landholding. No locational need was identified and the application was not considered to comply with the development plan. The current application relates to a different site within the wider business yard and is accompanied by further supporting information. The current proposal must therefore be assessed on its own merits against the adopted development plan.”

“Supporting Information 5.1. The application is supported by a location plan, block plan and supporting statement. The supporting statement argues that the proposal should be supported as previously developed land, as a contribution to rural population objectives, and as development associated with an existing rural business.”

“The applicant refers to rural repopulation and rural revitalisation. NPF4 supports rural revitalisation in appropriate circumstances, including where development assists fragile or remote rural communities. However, this site is not identified in the Local Development Plan as suitable for resettlement, and the proposal is for a single market dwelling associated with an existing business site.”

“Policy GBRA1 of SLLDP2 requires development in the rural area to respond to rural character and avoid isolated or sporadic residential development. The proposed dwelling would be located to the rear of an existing yard and adjacent to a pond and tree belt, rather than within an established residential group. In the absence of a justified rural housing need or business accommodation need, the proposal would amount to sporadic residential development in the rural area.”

“Consultations 6.1. Roads Development Management - no objection, subject to conditions. Roads Development Management note that the existing visibility splay onto Blackhill Road is substandard, but the access is well established and serves two dwellings and the applicant’s existing business. They recommend that the hedge to the front of Hillhead Farm is cut back to maximise the achievable visibility splay.”

“Environmental Services Environmental Services request deferment pending the submission of a noise assessment and contaminated land information to determine the impact from the existing yard on the proposed development. This information has not been submitted. Response: Noted…”

“Representations 7.1. Following the statutory period of neighbour notification and advertisement, no valid third-party representations have been received.”

“P/25/0015 for Erection of House (Planning Permission in Principle) at Land 190 Metres North of Forthview, Blackhill Road, Forth, Lanark A report dated 1 June 2026 by the Executive Director (Community and Enterprise Resources) was submitted on planning application P/25/0015 by R Mackie for the erection of a house (planning permission in principle) at land 190 metres north of Forthview, Blackhill Road, Forth, Lanark.”

“The Committee decided: that planning application P/25/0015 by R Mackie for the erection of a house (planning permission in principle) at land 190 metres north of Forthview, Blackhill Road, Forth, Lanark be refused for the reasons detailed in the Executive Director’s report.”