New homes are to be built on the site of the former community centre and a disused petrol station in Blackburn.
Estates manager Paul Kettrick sought permission for the sale of the site in Ash Grove from West Lothian Council’s Executive.
The almost two acre site has been vacant for some time. The community centre closed in 2018 with its relocation into Blackburn Partnership Centre. To facilitate redevelopment of the site, demolition of the former community centre was completed in 2019.
The remainder of the development site was open space and the site of a former petrol filling station. To facilitate redevelopment of this part of the site, the council undertook the removal of the historic below ground fuel tanks and the remediation of the adjacent land. This work was completed in early 2021.
Mr Kettrick said a sale of the site had been agreed with Abernethyn Properties for the price of £300,000.
Mr Kettrick said in a report: “The proposed purchaser intends to carry out a residential development for up to 15 houses for sale in the private housing market. The purchaser will be required to obtain planning consent for their proposed development. “
Local Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan told the meeting : “I think the people of Blackburn will be really pleased to see the development of the site. I think people will be really happy to see this development going ahead.”
Mr Kettrick’s report added: “The site is situated opposite the Mill Centre. In 2019 the owners of the shopping centre indicated that it was their intention to redevelop the shopping centre.
“The partial redevelopment of the Mill Centre is now the subject of a detailed planning application.
“In order to promote the regeneration of Blackburn town centre, Council, on 19 March 2019 agreed to instruct officers to actively market sites owned by the council in the vicinity of the Mill Centre, specifically, but not limited to, the former filling station on Ash Grove.
“Approval of the proposed sale, and the subsequent development by the proposed purchaser will meet the intention of the motion to promote redevelopment of this site in Blackburn town centre.”
