PLANNERS are playing a “numbers game” that is holding up much needed affordable housing in Kirkcudbright.
A local landowner claims potential development is being blocked because the site is not at the top the pecking order in the council’s local plan.
Sir David Hope-Dunbar said he has had a lot of support locally for his plan to sell off a field for potential development.
He claims the priority site for the town, named in the plan, is not for sale and planners are well aware of that.
Sir David, who owns St Mary’s Isle Estate, also said the other sites ahead of his ground, to the west of Parkhouse, are too small to interest developers.
He points to a meeting in the town hall about a year ago as evidence of the need for such development.
“It was suggested that there were some 940 people awaiting housing in Kirkcudbright,” he said.
“The site at Parkhouse could take 66 houses, divided between ‘build to let’ and shared ownership tenure.
“Loreburn Housing Association has expressed an interest in the development.
“I have had talks with planners and they say the priority must be the field on the other side of town.
“But they have admitted the owner has told them it is not for sale.
“What is also worrying is that there are reports that money for affordable housing will become very tight after 2010, so surely now is the time to develop?
“If the owner of the other site doesn’t want to develop and we are prepared to do so, why don’t the planners let us promote this site?”
Councillor Jane Maitland has been instrumental in getting the planners to correspond with Sir David.
But she pointed out there is still a large development at the Cannee Field that has not been completed, and planners want to see that happen before looking at other sites.
“Eleven houses have been built and there is permission for 44,” she said.
“Frankly it is a mess, and the people of Kirkcudbright want it completed.”
A council spokesman said: “Section 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended requires that the council, in making any planning decisions, must have regard to the development plan (the collective term for the council’s structure plan and any adopted local plan covering an area) and must make decisions in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
“The purpose of the development plan is to guide the future development of an area and provide policies regarding key land uses.”
