Dalshalloch Woods Proposed Housing Development

This webpage seeks to engage with and provide information to the local community regarding the development of the Dalshalloch Woods site on the western edge of Auchinleck, East Ayrshire.

The proposals aim to deliver high-quality affordable homes of varying sizes to meet the needs of the community. Public feedback is invaluable to the process of developing the designs for the site. Comments provided, will be used to shape and inform how the design develops, with the objective of a planning application being lodged later in the year.

Digital Consultation

The consultation is online due to the covid-19 virus, social distancing measures and guidance from the Scottish Government.

Information on this site will be available for comment between Wednesday 29th September and Friday 15th October 2021.

How can you help?

We are proposing a few ways by which you can comment, ask questions and obtain information.

A pdf file of the proposals is available here to download.

We are holding two online chat sessions on Thursday 30th September between 5pm and 7pm and Wednesday 6th October from 6pm to 8pm, during these times members of our team will be available to answer questions and receive your feedback. We will record all questions, answers and feedback and provide these in a summary document which will form part of the Planning Application. If we are unable to answer anything during the chat session, we will follow up a response with you.

Alternatively you can provide comments by completing a short online survey, where you can provide feedback on the designs shown in the proposal document by clicking here.

In addition, we would welcome comments and/or questions by post to LMA Architects, The Atrium, 6 New Road, Ayr, KA8 8EX, email to studio@l-m-a.co.uk or by phone on: 01292 611 727 (between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday).  Should you wish to speak with us out with these hours, please email us your number and a member of our team will get back to you.

The site is located on the western boundary of Auchinleck, and is currently a woodland and site of a former greyhound track.   It is a wedge shaped site with the B7083 (Mauchline Road) to the northern edge, the A76 to the western edge, Merlin Loch Park to the east and the railway to the south of the site.

The analysis of the site edge conditions and routes around and through the site provides a starting point for the design of the layout.

The site is wooded, and the development will result in the loss of woodland.

Through indepth ecological surveys that are currently being carried out, we are determining how best to support the ecology of the site in conjunction with the development of the site.

Some key points that have been identified are:

• a large portion of the site will be quite inward looking as a treed buffer will be left around the majority of the site. This will limit the impact on ecology and the impact of the view from the park.

• the corner at Templeton Roundabout is highly visible and home to the Ayrshire Field of Hope. This will be maintained.

• there is noise created by the railway and a noise assessment is being carried out to determine the impact of this.

• the north west corner of the site is prone to flooding – houses will not be built here.

• there is a bus route along Mauchline which is being reviewed with East Ayrshire Roads Dept. to determine the potential need for additional stops.

• The site is an allocated housing site within the Local Development Plan

The Proposals

The proposal consists of 95 housing units comprising of three bedroom bungalows, and two, three and four bedroom two storey houses.  The range of house types and sizes are aimed at meeting market needs to accommodate varying needs.

• The main landscape feature within the design is on the corner at Templeton roundabout and aims to enhance the current Ayrshire Field of Hope.

• Walking routes through the site will be maintained to enable access through the site to and from the park.

• Vehicles will access the site from Pennylands Road

• A tree buffer will be retained around the majority of the site.

• All homes will have front and back gardens and dedicated parking spaces.

• All homes will be built to high levels of sustainability.

Please refer to the proposal document for additional details which can be downloaded here.

Feedback

Information on this site will be available for comment between Wednesday 29th September and Friday 15th October 2021. The proposals you see here will be developed further to comments received from the public and the various stakeholders.

These views will form part of the pre-planning application public consultation (PAC) report which will accompany the planning application. A further opportunity to make representations to the Council will be available when the planning application is formally submitted for consideration.

Timeframes

22^nd April 2021 – Proposal of application Notice (PAN) submitted to East Ayrshire Council

30^th June 2021 – Environmental Impact Assessment Screening opinion requested from East Ayrshire Council

2^nd July 2021 – Pre-application submitted to East Ayrshire Council to obtain feedback

29th September to 15th October – website will be live for receipt of comments and online survey

30th September – Online chat event 1

6th October – Online chat event 2

Oct/Nov 2021 – Planning application submission to East Ayrshire Council

It is noted that this process does not involve the local planning authority, East Ayrshire Council.  Should you wish to make comment to them, that should be done separately.  In addition, there will the opportunity to make representation to the planning authority during the formal planning application process.