Cala Homes, who have lodged the proposal for 142 houses, already have a live application to develop the whole of the Kilmardinny land from Hillfoot in Bearsden to Auchenhowie in Milngavie under a masterplan.

There are now fears that if, instead, development of the land is allowed piecemeal, the opportunity will be lost for the proposed new road network and long awaited park and ride.

While that application, now at appeal, was rejected largely on the density of the housing proposed, the principle of developing under the masterplan was in accordance with local planning policy and the pre-inquiry, which sets out the timetabling of the appeal procedure, was held on Tuesday.

Milngavie Civic Trust, Burnbrae Residents' Association and community councils are objecting to the latest proposals which call for 104 flats, 22 detached and 16 terraced houses.

Spokesman for the civic trust, Ian Ferguson, said: "We are perplexed that this proposal is coming forward from Cala just as their appeal over the development of the whole of Kilmardinny is about to be heard by the Scottish Government.

"That aside, while we would welcome an appropriate development, we are objecting to the housing proposal on the grounds that the land is contaminated and has previously been declared unfit for housing, no flood risk assessment has been done and the density is too high and would adversely affect impact on the open environment."

Vice chairman of Burnbrae Residents' Association, Victor Budas, said his association would also welcome a sympathetic development, but explained: "We would want the land developed as a masterplan to incorporate an improved leisure centre, park and ride and roads network.

"But even to take the application as it stands, we strongly object to the four storey townhouses proposed along Milngavie Road, which would destroy the visual amenity for residents and visitors."

Bearsden North Community Council has also lodged objections to the
housing proposal and a spokesman for East Dunbartonshire Council said: "All planning applications are assessed on their merits.

"The Local Plan indicates that the development of Kilmardinny should be brought forward through an agreed masterplan.

"This Burnbrae application will be assessed in this context."

There was no response from Cala at the time of going to press.

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