Major new £11.7m housing development in Greenock approved

An application by Oak Tree Housing Association for a 69-home development in Tay Street and Tweed Street, Bow Farm, has been approved by the planning board.

A total of 63 semi-detached and terraced homes will be built on the site alongside six cottage flats.

It will breathe new life into an area which has been repeatedly hit by fly-tipping since the Pentland Court, Grampian Court and Nevis Court high-rises were demolished 15 years ago.

Board members unanimously approved the application and welcomed a long-awaited use for the land.

Councillor Robert Moran said: "This should be applauded.

"This is a fantastic piece of land and a fantastic place to live."

Cllr Natasha Murphy added: "I gladly welcome this application.

"I would like to see something done with the land."

The application does not include a play area, but Oak Tree has agreed to redevelop the site of the former play park on the corner of Walker Street and Tasker Street, which is just a few minutes down the road.

This move was agreed instead of Oak Tree making a contribution to an existing off-site play area, which applicants are often required to do in lieu of providing one on-site.

Cllr Ciano Rebecchi expressed some concerns over the lack of a play park during the meeting.

He said: "There is no play area in the application but it refers to one in Walker Street.

"I do not know if that is going to be big enough, as we are talking about 69 homes here."

Head of planning Stuart Jamieson assured Cllr Rebecchi that, while there was not a formal play area proposed, there were informal spots identified where children could play.

The council's head of education had noted in documents presented to the board that the development could add pressure to the roll capacity at nearby St Columba's High School and St Joseph's Primary, but added this would only be marginal.

The documents stated: "There is potential to add to pressure on St Columba's High School, albeit marginally.

"It could also increase pressure on St Joseph's Primary School to above 90 per cent occupancy.

"However, this is based on the precautionary assumption the development will attract all new pupils to the catchments, rather than allowing for some internal movement within the catchments from existing pupils."

Cllr Jim Clocherty said he was 'happy with the replies we've had from the head of education on this'.

There will be around 90 car parking spaces at the site through a combination of in-curtilage spaces and on-street spaces, including visitor bays.

Two access points for vehicles will be formed from the point where Tay Street meets Tweed Street, and the other as a continuation of Ness Road.

A pedestrian access from Tweed Street will also be developed.