An historic landfill site is set to be given a new lease of life.
Detailed plans by South Lanarkshire Counci l will see them transform their site in Glen Esk in the St Leonards area into a public green space to include a junior mountain bike track and an outdoor classroom.
The ambitious revival of the 7.6 hectare site was signed-off at the council’s planning committee.
It would be funded via support from Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.
Plans also include native planting and habitat creation, footpaths, boundary treatments, artwork and a car parking area.
The report to councillors explains part of the site was historically used as a landfill and currently comprises a central open space area, with separate wooded areas located towards the east and west of the site.
It is bounded to the north by existing residential properties and the former site of the St Leonard’s Primary School, which is currently being redeveloped for residential purposes.
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A number of public events and stakeholder workshops were held in the area between November 2018 and January 2019 to gauge residents’ opinions on the plans.
Officers stated that “the majority of participants favoured the proposal to carry out improvement works within the site.”
Concerns were raised in four letters of representation which included issues for surrounding properties in terms of overlooking, loss of privacy and other amenity issues.
Fears over anti-social behaviour, particularly in the vicinity of the proposed junior bicycle track, were also raised along with noise and disturbance and an increase in traffic.
But the report concludes that: “The development would have a significant positive impact on the local and wider area, would be appropriate to the site in terms of design and layout, would have a positive overall impact on surrounding amenity.”
