News

Proposals put forward for ambitious low carbon development in West Lothian

Turley is part of the project team working on exciting proposals which have been put forward for the delivery of an ambitious residential-led mixed-use development in West Lothian.

We are providing Planning, Sustainability, Strategic Communications and Economics services for the scheme which is situated at the current Clapperton poultry farm complex, located east of Livingston.

 

The Clapperton site, owned by Amber REI (Agriculture) Ltd, is a key component of the Scottish poultry supply chain but currently comprises ageing poultry sheds and surplus land. The value realised from this development will underpin a more than £100 million package of investment back into the Scottish food and agriculture sector, through the company’s poultry supply chain operations across Scotland.

 

‘Drumshoreland Garden Community’ proposes up to 2,000 homes (including 500 affordable homes) and will be brought forward by Elan Homes (Scotland) Ltd, a sister company of Amber REI. This will create a high-quality mixed-use development set within a substantial parkland setting. The low carbon community will also serve to address a significant historic housing land supply problem in West Lothian.

 

A wide range of house types, sizes and tenures will be provided with the aim of providing genuine range and choice, and establishing a mixed, diverse community from the outset. A proportion of the site will be delivered for affordable housing at a minimum rate of 25 per cent. Also included will be employment, education and other community facilities.

The development will also seek to embrace the philosophy of “a 20-minute neighbourhood”, as promoted in the Scottish Government’s recent “Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: The Government's Programme for Scotland 2020-2021”, where people can meet most of their essential needs within a 20-minute walk. It also means having easy access to green space and a local environment that encourages active travel to promote health and well being. As is the case with Drumshoreland this is a place where people want to live, so affordable housing is a key part of it.

 

We have submitted two Proposal of Application Notices (PAN) for planning permission in principle (PPiP) to West Lothian Council. These PANs formally note that planning applications will be submitted in due course to establish the principle of development on the site.  A PPiP application will be submitted covering the wider site and the other PPiP will cover an area of land located within the wider site.

 

The development at Drumshoreland will act as a catalyst to deliver an investment package in the Scottish agriculture and food sector in excess of £100 million.

 

The new state-of-the-art low carbon facilities will deliver jobs both directly and indirectly through the supply chain. The delivery of these improved facilities will also serve to assist in improving standards in the sector while making a major contribution to the Scottish Government’s target of a net-zero society in terms of carbon emissions by 2045.

 

Commenting on the proposals, a spokesperson from Amber REI (Agriculture) said:

 

“We are delighted these exciting proposals are being bought forward and that they will deliver significant investment not only in West Lothian but across Scotland as a whole.

 

“As an exemplar low carbon community Drumshoreland will not only deliver much-needed housing, including affordable housing, but employment, education and community facilities. It will also deliver significant post-COVID investment into the poultry processing supply chain across Scotland, creating jobs, both directly and indirectly, as well as delivering a low carbon future for the agriculture sector.”

14 September 2020