A FINAL decision has been made on Ally McCoist's controversial Bridge of Weir housing development.
The football commentator was seeking to build 33 upmarket homes in the plush area.
Proposals include details for four detached houses, six semi-detached houses and 23 flats split into three blocks.
The application sparked almost 400 objections from locals after first being submitted in July 2024, including from Bridge of Weir Community Council – with one resident even taking the matter to the Scottish Government.
The site is described as "effectively open countryside" in documents submitted to the local which also state the plans mark a "logical extension" to the residential area.
The application was put forward by Erskine-based company James [Glasgow] Ltd, which lists the ex-Scotland international and Jeffrey East as company directors.
In their objections, residents raised concerns about issues such as increased traffic, a lack of local infrastructure including schools and doctors surgeries to accommodate the development, and the potential flood risk to existing properties.
Other concerns raised included the safety of cyclists and pedestrians including children walking to and from school, noise concerns and the impact on the “significant local bat population”.
According to the Scottish Sun, Renfrewshire Council has today [May 26] rejected the plans.
Local councillors, Iain Nicolson and Andy Doig, voiced concerns over the proposed housing development’s multi-storey blocks and its impact on traffic and wildlife in the area.
Delivering the decision, Renfrewshire Council’s chief planning officer David Love said: “It was considered that the development was incongruous with the existing surrounding uses and landscape, and that the site is in an elevated position.
“The design and layout does not reflect or is in keeping with surrounding residential buildings. In addition, the site is considered to have a detrimental impact on the conservation area, the biodiversity within the local area and it’s against the ambitions of the Bridge of Weir local place plan.”
Councillor Nicolson said: “The first thing that struck me was, it’s a highly visible site from Kilmalcolm Road. You see the traffic all going by, so to stick a block of flats on the end of what is a small residential street, to my mind, is not in keeping with the design elements.
“Now, I think that site can accommodate housing. But it’s the right housing for that site.
“When you look at the plans on map, it looks pretty well spaced out. What stands out is the blocks of flats.
“Rather than develop out the site on the ground level, they went up the way, to try and make the numbers work out I suspect. But that’s up to them as the applicant.”
He added: “On that basis, I would recommend a refusal.
“I think if they came along with a proposal that truly matched in with the existing housing use, I don’t think there would’ve been a problem with this application. I think it’s the fact they want to stick blocks of flats on top of it is the real issue.”
McCoist, who was present at the meeting, declined to comment on the decision.
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