Holyrood appointed Reporter agrees container site would be out of place in green gateway into Armadale
The eastern entrance to Armadale will not see a a storage container site after rejection of plans by councillors and the Scottish Government(Image: Google Images)
An appeal to site storage containers on the green fringe of Armadale has been rejected by the Scottish Government.
A Reporter appointed by the Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) backed West Lothian’s initial refusal of the plan in November last year.
The council Development Management Committee agreed with planners who said it was not a suitable “ gateway to the town”, adding: “The proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of this main approach into the town.”
The Reporter, Leigh Johnston, said in her decision that the containers and boundary fence planned would : “would encroach into the open character of the ‘green’ corridor”.
Mr W. Cochrane had submitted revised plans late last year to site 20 storage containers on the site which lies at the eastern end of Armadale next to the town’s speedway stadium.
Planning paperwork presented to the DMC in November said: “The site is highly visible and at a gateway position on the main approach into Armadale from the east.
“The portable containers would be out of keeping and would directly impact on the visual amenity of the adjacent residents at Birkdale Park.”
The planning report also detailed concerns about the effect of proposed operating hours on neighbours living around the site.
Councillor Tony Boyle had described the proposal as the wrong development in the wrong place.
Backing up the refused consent Ms Johnston said in the decision: “At my site inspection, I noted a key feature when arriving at and entering Armadale on the A89 is the ‘green’ corridor, a tree lined route with an open feel, characterised by low rise buildings set back from the roadway.
“I find the appeal site to form part of that open space and the green corridor, even though it is partially enclosed and forms part of the curtilage of Armadale Stadium.
“The large containers are industrial in nature and together with the proposed solid wooden fence would encroach into the open character of the ‘green’ corridor, immediately adjacent to the main road and pedestrian crossing.”
She added: “This does not create a visually sensitive development and impacts on local context as it does not respect the established building line and fails to acknowledge the existing character. I find the siting of the proposed storage containers is inappropriate, the timber boundary fence would not suitably screen the impact of the development and it would have an adverse impact on the visual amenity and character of the entrance into Armadale itself.
“It would have a significant adverse impact on the amenity and street scape of the area and does not demonstrate a contextual design or respect the existing street scape and green corridor character. I also find it would be detrimental to the amenity of the surrounding area.”
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