Following an extensive public consultation process and review at both local and national level, the Scottish Government has approved Mac Mic Group’s proposal for 78 high-quality new homes and a new community park at Quarry Drive in Kilmacolm.

In May 2021 Inverclyde Council granted planning approval. However, the Scottish Government also wanted to review the application and has now announced that it too supports the proposal.

As well as being carefully designed to be sympathetic to the character of the village, 25% of the proposed Kilmacolm development will be affordable homes. With house sizes ranging from three-bedroom semi-detached to four- and five-bedroom family homes, the development is designed to meet the needs of people of all ages.

Bruce Hampton, Senior Land and Planning Manager at Mactaggart & Mickel, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to approve our application, which will boost the local economy and help meet the well-documented need for more homes in the area.

“At the start of this process, we made three commitments to the residents of Kilmacolm: to listen and work with the community, to protect the character of the village and to create an outstanding development by exceeding current planning requirements.

“Our public consultation went far beyond that required by the planning process. We wrote directly to all households in the area asking for their views on how we could make a more positive contribution to Kilmacolm. This feedback was used to inform our proposal and we would like to thank everyone who has engaged in this process over recent years. We remain committed to working with the residents of Kilmacolm through the detail design process to create a bespoke development that everyone can be proud of.”

The development also far exceeds the Government’s sustainability target of a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The new homes are designed to produce 50% less carbon dioxide than a typical dwelling of the same size. This will be achieved through improved use of natural daylight, better insulation, low-energy lighting, air-source heat pumps for heating and hot water, and rooftop solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity.

The development has also been designed to reduce reliance on travel by private car. In addition to being close to cycle infrastructure, public transport and local services, the homes will have high-speed fibre broadband connections for home working, electric vehicle charging points, cycle parking spaces and secure lockers for home deliveries.

The plans are also designed to improve biodiversity by enhancing the existing woodland, hedgerows, scattered trees and open grassland, with the existing crops of mature trees being retained and integrated into the design.

Craig Ormond, Director at Mactaggart & Mickel, said: “At every step of this process, we have put the community’s needs at the heart of our thinking and sought to meet or exceed the requirements of the relevant planning policies.

“We enhanced our designs so that we could propose a development of high quality, sustainable homes that respond to Kilmacolm’s local requirements. Following the Scottish Government’s decision, we shall continue consulting with stakeholders on more detailed plans to help deliver a distinctive development that harmonises with the natural landscape and complements the character and features of the village.”