The construction of 458 homes in the north of Penicuik could be one step closer after Midlothian Council signalled that legal discussions are nearing completion.
Twenty-one months after the council gave permission, subject to the signing of a legal agreement, formal permission to start construction could be just three weeks away, according to a local authority spokesperson.
Discussions to sign a section 75 legal agreement have been progressing well, say Taylor Wimpey, and the landmark signing is just “three to six weeks away”. Should this prove correct, contractors could be onsite by mid-November, starting thirteen years of construction work in the north west of the town.
Pauline Mills, Land and Planning Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said:
Our discussions to agree our Section 75 obligations associated with our Greenlaw Mill development with Midlothian Council remain positive and constructive.
A section 75 legal agreement must be agreed upon to deliver any major projects in the country. The agreement between the developer and the council sets forth the developer’s contributions to the local infrastructure, economy and education provision.
In the case of “Greenlaw Mill” infrastructure contributions will fund a raft of local road improvements, including the delivery of a new roundabout on the A702. Contributions to the education provision will cover the costs of adding two new classrooms to Mauricewood Primary, whilst some funds will also go towards improving Beeslack CHS. A minimal amount of money will go towards the local economy due to the developer’s plans to erect a commercial zone onsite.
When the discussions do conclude, there will be a hive of activity as the developer rushes to start selling property. Taylor Wimpey’s contractors “Advanced Construction Scotland” will be first on site to create the infrastructure for the development of phase one of the 458 homes. A show home will then quickly be erected to the back of Boyd-Orr Drive. Meanwhile roadworks will start on the A701 and A702 to deliver the improvements required. An application for the extension of Mauricewood Primary would also follow.
This new housing site will be the first in a succession of new developments to be constructed in the north west of Penicuik. Cala homes announced last month that they had joined a consortium with Bett Homes and Mactaggart & Mickel with plans to build hundreds of new homes off of Rullion Road.
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