NEW proposals have been submitted to West Lothian Council for a £275 million residential-led mixed-use development and relocation of existing farm space.
Drumshoreland Garden Community, situated at the current Clapperton poultry farm near Livingston, will comprise an area of 108 hectares and feature affordable housing, employment, educational and community facilities. The site is located within a new parkland setting that includes 19.9 hectares of woodland being given over to public access.
Two applications for planning permission in principle (PPiP) have been submitted to the council, aiming to establish the principle of development on the site.
The Clapperton site, owned by Amber REI (Agriculture) Ltd, is described as a ‘key component’ of the Scottish poultry supply chain but currently comprises ageing sheds and surplus land.
The value realised from the Drumshoreland development has been tipped to underpin more than £150 million of investment back into the Scottish food and agriculture sector through poultry supply chain operations. Current facilities at the Clapperton site will be relocated elsewhere in West Lothian.
Around 1,800 properties, including 25% affordable homes, are proposed as part of Drumshoreland Garden Community and will be brought forward by Elan Homes (Scotland) Ltd, a sister company of Amber REI. Original housing numbers have been reduced to accommodate more mixed-use elements following feedback raised during consultation with local groups.
Initial discussions have been held with a registered social landlord, Almond Housing Association, with respect to the planning and delivery of affordable housing, as well as with Veterans Housing Scotland for some veteran housing on the site.
The development seeks to embrace the ’20-minute neighbourhood’ philosophy, whereby most essential needs can be met within a 20-minute walk.
A combination of the Drumshoreland development and other investment across Scotland in the agriculture, food and tourism sectors could see the potential for £425 million being invested, supporting thousands of jobs and delivering new low carbon facilities.
Initial plans to improve elements of the Scottish poultry supply chain would include investment in new processing facilities at Coupar Angus, the upgrading of feed mill and provision of new hotel at Edinburgh Airport, a new animal feed mill located in the central belt, and new farming space across West Lothian.
A spokesperson from Amber REI (Agriculture) said, “We are delighted to be submitting these planning applications to West Lothian Council which follows significant pre-application consultations with the local community and other stakeholders. This could 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 in a unique parkland setting. It would also deliver significant post-Covid investment amounting to more than £150 million 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.”
Planning and development consultancy Turley is providing planning, strategic communications, economics, heritage & townscape and sustainability services for the scheme. Masterplanning and placemaking services are being led by OPEN (Optimised Environments) including integrated architecture and landscape disciplines.
