New West Lothian homes on hold after confusion over 'missing paperwork'

19.01.2023 - 19:13 / dailyrecord.co.uk

A house builder has had a decision on plans for new homes in Bathgate put on hold for two months while uncertainty over missing paperwork is sorted out.

What appeared to be a straightforward application to build six new homes on a narrow strip of land in Bathgate quickly developed into a confused debate about the detail of the proposal, and whether reports had actually been supplied.

The developer insisted he tried to update plans on planning consent he already has, but the planners decided it was a new application.

And planners recommended refusal of the application by David Cowan to build on land next to Inchcross Park on the southern edge of the town ,arguing that the road was too narrow for a bin lorry to access the homes. They also said that relevant studies including drainage, noise and a tree and ecology survey had not been supplied.

Mr Cowan told a meeting of the Development Management Committee that, as far as he was concerned, he had only asked for a variation on the planning consent he already had to build eight houses on the site. It was the planning department, he said, who changed his request for a variation to a new application.

He told the committee that he had already supplied documents requested, including one on drainage reports as part of the planning application he had secured in 2018. He added that since December had submitted 50 documents to the planning department.

"I've heard nothing from you", he added.

A planning officer told the meeting that the changes proposed by Mr Cowan to update the specifications of the houses he wanted to build were sufficiently different to justify a new planning application, distinct from the existing planning permission he already has.

Neil Gray, an agent for Mr Cowan said: