Plans unveiled for more affordable homes to be built on Arran
A planning application for 23 homes has been submitted to North Ayrshire Council
Last updated 12th Jan 2024
An ambitious development is planned for Arran to help ease concerns about much-needed affordable housing on the island.
A planning application for 23 homes has been submitted to North Ayrshire Council.
The development will include an access road and infrastructure at a site west of Rowarden, Benlister Road, in Lamlash.
Arran Development Trust is fronting the project for serviced plots to allow self-build homes at Halls Field.
The trust is a community membership organisation specifically set up by the full-time resident community to “solve the acute affordable housing shortage on Arran”.
Its main remit is to “offer a choice of affordable housing products” as a “one size fits all” approach does not suit everyone’s housing aspirations.
The serviced self-build plot approach is one option on the menu of providing affordable, permanent individually-designed housing on the island, which focuses on enhancing, sustaining and supporting both the existing community and future generations.
Properties will not be used as holiday or second homes
The properties will be used as principal residences only and not as holiday or second homes.
The site has lain vacant for some years, and most of it is identified within the North Ayrshire Local Plan as part of the ‘general urban area’ within the settlement map for Lamlash.
Planning permission has already been given for 18 affordable rented homes in the site immediately to the east at Rowarden.
Established housing developments already exist in the nearby Benlister Terrace and St Molios Park.
The planned development comprises 23 serviced plots with a new access road, and associated infrastructure.
All of the proposed plots have been designed to accommodate a three or four-bedroom house. The site is situated at the north-western edge of the island’s bigget settlement Lamlash.
It is presently accessed from a track along its southern boundary, which is a continuation of the adopted Benlister Road.
Plans also include upgrading access to the site
A key part of the proposal is to upgrade this track to become an adopted road which would access the development site.
Although the site lies at the edge of the town, it is within walking distance to key local facilities with the local secondary school 200 metres away, bus stops 450m away and convenience stores, cafés, bars and other amenities in the centre of Lamlash between 600m and a kilometre from the site.
The nearest doctors’ surgery is within 500m of the proposed development.
Access to the open countryside is also easily achievable from the site, with the land to the west immediately accessible from the lane.
Scottish Water has no objection to the application.