COMMUNITY groups are backing proposals for 350 new family homes in Robroyston to regenerate and encourage people to move to the area.

A pre-planning application from Taylor Wimpey was presented to a Glasgow City Council committee for the creation of the residential area at Auchinairn Road and development of a new roundabout.

Council officers recommended councillors refuse the application which did not comply with the city development plan and “undermined” greenbelt objectives.

They also said as there was sufficient housing in the area there was no justification to diverge from the development plan.

Robroyston councillor Aileen McKenzie, who is not a member of the planning committee, spoke in favour of the application.

She said: “Pre-application discussions have been taken with Glasgow City Council since 2017 where officers acknowledged the need for family housing in the city.

“The applicants were encouraged to submit the application and the initial application was submitted in May 2019. There is no local objection to the proposals, no statutory consultee objections and no comments received from Scottish National Heritage.

“Two public consultation events were undertaken, and feedback was positive with a number of attendees looking to purchase a home. There were 565 perspective purchasers who have registered an interest in buying a Taylor Wimpy house.”

If given the green light, the development will see the creation of a two-metre footway created along the eastern edge of Robroyston Road connecting with the Brookfield Drive Roundabout.

Council officers say that the proposal is contrary to the sustainable spatial strategy which focuses development and regeneration to the existing urban area and sites well served by public transport.

Richard Holland from Taylor Wimpy disagreed. He said: “With 565 potential buyers registered for the site, this highlights the demand for homes in the area.

“Four of the refusal reasons relate to greenbelt or the site being of special landscape importance which only part of the site which is neither to be allocated or retained for open space for community uses.

“The greenbelt assessment concluded that the proposals will not have any adverse effect on the objectives of the greenbelt. We believe that the proposal is acceptable in principle. We are committed to working with the council, community and schools to deliver a successful neighbourhood here.”

Members of Robroyston Community Council and Barmulloch Community Development affirmed their support for the development.

Carole Philip, of Robroyston community council, said: “Today marks an important milestone in our forward planning for Robroyston.

“We support the Taylor Wimpy application because they demonstrated the understanding of community development needs.

“There will be spaces for community orchards, children’s games, cycle events and many other activities which will allow residents to volunteer and integrate with each other.”

Members of the planning committee were then allowed to ask questions about the proposals. While some thought it was a good idea, others felt that the rules of the development plan should not be broken.

Councillor Martin Bartos said: “It’s great to hear the enthusiasm and the activity which is going on in the area. It is also good to see the work that is happening in corporation with a developer.

“I am really heartened by all that but at the same time I’ve still not decided if I’m voting for or against this application because for me there is a wider issue in what is happening with the green belt and clearly it is an asset for the wider area.

“It is part of the strategic plan for the whole suit.”

Following a lengthy discussion between members, a motion to approve the planning application in principle was moved as was an amendment to refuse it.

The motion passed with 11 votes to five.