FOLLOWING a two-year wait, an application to create four new houses in Clydebank could be refused – because the developer hasn’t paid his four-figure contribution fee.

In June 2018 members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee were minded to grant planning permission to construct the homes on land adjacent to Three Acres, off Cochno Road in Faifley.

Since then, the developer David Lindsay, has been contacted on more than one occasion to pay the outstanding fee of £5,400 which has not been made available.

In line with the council’s ‘Our Green Network’ planning guidance a developer contribution is required as there is a shortfall of open space.

The payment would go towards the improvement of local open space and to comply with the terms of the local authority’s development plan.

It had been calculated that the required contribution was £5,400, and this could be secured through a Section 69 Agreement which requires the receipt of payment prior to the planning authority issuing consent.

As Mr Lindsay has failed to make the required contribution, the proposal is therefore contrary to council guidance.

Several emails have been exchanged over the past two years but the council has been advised that Mr Lindsay is not in a position to pay the developer contribution but is keen to investigate alternative arrangements by providing sufficient on-site open space.

But a report on the application says that given the site’s limitations, an increase in on site provision is not possible.

Members of the council’s planning committee are being encouraged to agree that without having provided the necessary on-site open space, or the alternative developer contribution, the development is not in accordance with the policies of the local development plan.

In an online report, Pamela Clifford, planning and building standards manager, said: “The proposed development fails to provide adequate open space to meet the amenity needs of the future occupants.

“Furthermore, the applicant has failed to make the necessary developer contributions towards improvements to local open space to deal with the shortfall.

“The proposal is therefore contrary to adopted local development plan, which sets out the parameters for developer contributions.”

The planning committee will consider the issue at a meeting to be held via video link on Wednesday, August 19.