West Lothian councillors have given the green light to plans to build almost 3,000 homes on farmland near the Five Sisters at West Calder,
The long-awaited application for permission in principle for Gavieside Farm on the western fringe of Livingston was welcomed by West Lothian Council’s Development Management committee.
Happy to support the long-term development of the area, local Councillor Pauline Clark echoed the reservations of some objectors who expressed concerns about the impact 2,800 homes would have on existing transport and healthcare infrastructure.
Developers Persimmon Homes stressed the new Core Development Area was a long-term plan- taking 20 years to complete- and would develop.
The 44-acre site straddles the B7015 north and south and is west of Livingston and north of Polbeth/West Calder. The site has long been allocated as a Core Development Area for housing development. But the CDA will also contain a primary school for up to 693 children, a village centre with shop units. There is also space for light industrial units.
Detailed plans have yet to be approved but work is expected to start on the first phase in 2028.
The first phase will see 500 homes built north of the existing B7015 along with the start of the village centre and substantial infrastructure improvements to the roads and footpath network.
Gavieside Bridge on the B7015 will be replaced with new active travel links and pathways connecting the area to West Calder railway station and to the Simpson Parkway junction in Livingston. An internal link road will also connect tot new housing from the B7015 to Mossend Road.
After the completion of the initial phase in 2033 development will grow around the eastern lee of the Five Sisters in five phases until the completion of the new Core Development Area in 2049.
The SNP’s Willie Boyle told the meeting that concerts had been expressed by existing businesses in Livingston of the effect of the new housing on transport links around the town. He asked whether consideration had been given to a new distributor road which would connect the estate to the Toll roundabout in northern Livingston.
Neil Martin from Persimmon Homes said: “There are a lot of interventions in road improvements we have been asked to do and will do. At this point in time there’s no justified need for a road going up to the Toll roundabout. Times will change. People don’t know what’s going to happen in five or ten years. As things evolve the plan will evolve.”
He added that other CDA plans, in East Calder and Winchburgh had evolved over time.
Labour’s Tom Conn sought reassurance that developer contributions would be used to improve surgeries and local health care facilities in West Calder given that two GP practices will cover the area- West Calder and Blackburn.
Andrew Cotton, a senior planning officer, pointed out that any decision to change GP practice boundary areas would solely be down to the practice itself rather than the council or the developer.
Chairing the committee, Councillor Harry Cartmill asked Persimmon representatives to outline the plans for 700 affordable homes the development would bring.
Gregor Scotland from the firm said that the majority of buyers for existing Persimmon homes in West Lothian were first time buyers and the firm’s house prices were on average 19% lower than others.
Councillor Clark said: “ I think it is an exciting development. I do have quite a lot of concerns about transport and roads. It is going to be in the mid to late 40s before this is complete and if I’m still about then I would hate to come round and say ‘I told them that they needed that road.’
“I do welcome the Section 75 funding for schooling. I would hope that changes will be made and the children will be schooled locally. I take councillor Conn’s point about medical practice. If West Calder medical practice expanded into Gavieside that would be an ideal situation.”
Recommending the planning permission in principle Councillor Clark added: “When it comes to the detailed plans stages there will be lots of things ironed out. I am quite happy to move the paper as it is just now. I think it is at the detailed stage where things can be sorted out.”
Councillor Tom Conn said it would be common sense to make a decision now about future health care facilities for Gavieside sooner rather than later. “This is the right time to sort out looking after patients.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
