Controversial Paisley housing plans which were thrown out by Renfrewshire Council earlier this year have reared their head again as an appeal from developers looks set to be granted.
After campaigners thought they had saved the University of the West of Scotland's (UWS) Thornly Park campus from plans for 179 new homes, the site now looks under serious threat.
UWS, in partnership with Miller Homes, sought permission from Renfrewshire Council to demolish the sports pitches, disused student accommodation and Robertson Sports Centre at its campus to make way for the development.
The proposal received 116 objections and a petition against it was signed by 1,160 people, with the council eventually deciding to refuse the blueprint in May citing the fact it didn't include any plans for affordable homes.
But a reporter appointed by the Scottish Government has now signalled their intention to grant an appeal from UWS/Miller subject to a section 75 legal agreement being drawn up between the applicants and the council.
Before any planning permission can be granted, the council needs to finalise details of a financial contribution from the developers to St Andrew's Academy - which would be required to ensure the school has sufficient capacity - as well as agree on the level and type of affordable housing to be provided.
The council has already said developers would need to cough up almost half a million pounds to ensure the school could take on more children, according to appeal documents.
But campaign group Save Paisley's Green Space - which organised the petition and produced a dossier on why the campus is unsuitable for housing - have said they are worried that even with a cash injection from developers, there would still be capacity problems at St Andrew's.
A spokeswoman for the group said: "Overcapacity at St Andrew’s Academy has been a cause for serious parental concern for a number of years, exacerbated by the looming threat of the many housing developments either under construction or in the planning pipeline for its catchment area.
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"The council will seek a section 75 agreement to secure a financial contribution from any developer to mitigate the impact on any schools affected.
"For example, the children's services and education department have indicated a contribution of £497,250 would be required from the UWS/Miller proposed development towards St Andrew’s Academy.
"This is all well and good, however, if they [the council] could come up with a figure, they must also have a plan to alleviate the existing overcapacity situation and deal with the inevitable future demand from so many additional homes and this is exactly what parents want to know.
"Will it be additional teachers, additional teaching accommodation or a reconfiguring of the catchment area? Sometimes money isn't the complete answer."
The council will also need to finalise a cash contribution from developers for replacement playing pitches before any planning permission can be granted.
Save Paisley’s Green Space previously asked councillors to consider the effect the development would have on a sizeable bat population and many other species of bird, as well as the loss of native woodland.
Historic features, such as part of the former Thornly Park Industrial School, designed by acclaimed Paisley Architect Thomas Abercrombie, would also be demolished if the development goes ahead.
According to the reporter's notice of intention, UWS/Miller said the council had not sought any element of affordable housing within the development at any point during pre-application discussions or during the process of the application being assessed.
A spokesperson for Miller Homes said: “We are pleased our proposals for new homes at Thornly Park has been accepted by the appointed Scottish Government reporter.
"We believe our plans for Thornly Park, a brownfield site which has been allocated for housing since 2014, have been well considered and will provide much needed new homes for the Paisley area.
"We will now look to work with the relevant authorities in order to progress the development.”
A council spokesman added: “We have 13 weeks to put in place a legal agreement, and are currently in discussion with the representatives of the developer to agree a suitable obligation from them.
“That agreement will cover the level and type of affordable housing to be provided, and the developer contribution towards replacement playing pitches and education provision at St Andrew’s Academy.
“We are well aware of the challenges with capacity at St Andrew’s, and for that reason we seek a contribution from developers for every new housing development agreed within the catchment area.
“Plans for exactly how those contributions would be used are still being considered, but we can assure parents they will go towards ensuring the high standards of education and accommodation pupils and staff are used to at the current site are maintained.”
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