PLANS to transform a piece of waste ground in Hamilton into a block of flats have been given the green light by councillors.

A total of 19 flats will now be built by developers Patersons of Greenoakhill at 53 Union Street, near Auchingramont Road.

The derelict site has lain empty since 2015 when the previous house was demolished and previous proposals to build flats were not acted upon.

Planning and building standards manager Bernard Darroch told South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, January 27, that a previous planning permission for a similar proposal had lapsed as worked had not commenced.

He added that “the principle of a residential development is acceptable” and that the “design, layout and scale of the proposals was considered acceptable”.

The four-storey block will contain 16 two-bed flats and three penthouse flats with three bedrooms.

Parking for 38 cars will be located at the front of the site while amenity and garden space will to the side and rear of the flats.

No objections were raised by statutory consultees subject to conditions, however five objection letters were received from members of the public.

Concerns were raised around road and public safety due to increased traffic, drainage, loss of privacy as well of the the design and scale of the building which would be located within a designated conservation area.

The neighbouring property at 51 Union Street is a listed building and officers consider that that proposed design “will not impact adversely on the character of the area, nor the conservation area, within which it is located”.

Roads and transportation team leader Fraser Jack said the development would generate around “one vehicle every five minutes” and that that was “not a significant amount of traffic”.

A legal agreement will now be concluded between the council and the developers for community benefit payment towards “community/recreational facilities within the area” which is expected to be around £28,000.