Plans to construct hundreds of new homes on land north of Rullion Road will be revived later this month, a decade after originally being submitted.
CALA and Avant Homes are to invite the public to two events in April, aimed at showcasing their proposals for up to 500 new dwellings on the land to the north of Deanburn and Rullion Road.
Under the revised proposals, luxury house builder CALA Homes will partner with Avant Homes (formerly Bett Homes) to offer a range of three to five bedroom properties, a new link road between Rullion and Mauricewood Roads and new areas for recreational use. A segment of the development would also offer up to 100 new social houses, subject to planning.
Derek Lawson, Land Director with CALA Homes (East) explained:
Planning applications for the site have been with Midlothian Council since 2006, and remain undetermined. We are looking to make some changes to update the designs to meet current standards, and felt that given the lapse of time we would benefit from receiving the views and opinions from the wider community.
Our intention is to lodge a new planning application, but the principles of the long established proposals are unchanged. including a new link road from Queensway to Mauricewood Road, and land for over 100 new Council houses on land adjacent Deanburn are of the town.
The first public consultation will take place on Wednesday April 13 in Shottstown Miners Welfare Club, John Street, Penicuik, between the hours of 2pm and 8pm. The second will be on Thursday April 14 in Mauricewood Primary School, Penicuik, at the same times as the previous. At these events, the public will be able to give initial feedback on the preliminary plans before the developers bring forward a formal, and perhaps further revised, application. Midlothian Council will then consider the application, which will be minded to grant due to the safeguarding in the current Local Development Plan.
Penicuik Community Council has also been approached for their initial feedback on the proposals.
Nicola Reid, Land Director of Avant said:
These sites have been allocated for housing in the Local Plan for a number of years and we believe that it is fair that a fresh opportunity now is given to the community to see what is planned. Subject to the planning process, we hope to be able to commence building in spring 2017, with first homes becoming available later in the year.
Subject to completion of the public consultation process, and pre-application dialogue with Midlothian Council, CALA and Avant hope to be in a position to lodge a planning application in the summer/autumn of 2016. They are hopeful, subject to planning approval, to be in a position to commence construction in summer of 2017.
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