75 new homes proposed for Drongan in planning bid to council

Applicant Hayhill Developments is seeking permission to build 75 new homes on a site at Water of Coyle, off Truesdale Crescent on the south-western edge of the village.

It comes after permission for a development of 52 homes on the site was previously granted to Hope Homes (Scotland) in February 2021.

A design and access statement lodged with the local authority, alongside the formal application, describes a variety of house types, from two-bedroom terraced homes to four-bedroom detached properties, built over a mixture of one and two storeys.

One of the proposed new house types (Image: GD Lodge Architects/East Ayrshire Council)

A “carefully positioned amenity open space” is also proposed for the site, along with a “formal equipped play area”.

The statement also says that “the proposed infill development will form a natural expansion of the local neighbourhood and provide an appropriate extension to the town’s existing housing stock”.

The site is already zoned for residential development under the current East Ayrshire local development plan, and is also designated for housing under the next local plan, currently at the proposal stage.

An 'amenity open space' and 'formal equipped play area' are planned for the site (Image: GD Lodge Architects/East Ayrshire Council)

Under the plans there would be only one access point to and from the development, on Truesdale Crescent itself.

The access statement also says that a series of ‘sustainable design features’ will feature in the homes, including roof-mounted photovoltaic arrays for each home, “generating free energy to contribute to the power demands of the individual houses”.

The statement, prepared by GD Lodge Architects on behalf of Hayhill Developments, adds: “The new proposals will create an attractive residential development within the settlement boundary of Drongan and offer a full range of two, three and four bedroom homes including single storey housing.

The proposals feature a mix of one and two storey homes (Image: GD Lodge Architects/East Ayrshire Council)

“This will cater for different age groups, needs and abilities.

“The development will take advantage of existing local infrastructure, facilities and services. The layout has been carefully thought through providing attractive street scenes, public open space and an equipped play area improving the residential amenity of the surrounding area.

“All homes will be fully accessible on the ground floor and adaptable for changing needs.

A view of the proposed layout of the homes, off Truesdale Crescent (Image: GD Lodge Architects/East Ayrshire Council)

“The houses will be simple and contemporary in style, while respecting a traditional Scottish vernacular.”

In its response, Scottish Water says it has no objection to the application, and that there is enough capacity at the nearest water treatment works – at the Afton reservoir – to service the development.

But the utility company says it is “unable to confirm capacity currently” at the Drongan waste water treatment works to assess whether it can cope with the waste water which will be generated by the new homes if permission is granted.

A CGI 'street scene' in monochrome showing what the proposed Drongan housing development could look like (Image: GD Lodge Architects/East Ayrshire Council)

The application has a determination deadline of December 27, though the council has also set an ‘internal target date’ of Monday, November 6 for reaching a decision.

To view the application documents in full, including the design and access statement, and to submit your comments on the plans, see bit.ly/drongan75homes.