Linlithgow Civic Trust and West Lothian History and Amenity Society
JOINT RESPONSE TO PLANNING CONSULTATION
Proposal: Erection of a 6062 sq metre care home at Bonsyde Road,
Linlithgow.
Planning Application Number - 0316/FUL/09 Ross Burton
Observations:
This proposal is well presented, both in the plans and in the design
statement.
We have long argued that the care home at Bonnytoun would be far better
located by the Bonsyde Road rather than in the previously proposed site to the
west where it had not proved possible to establish a suitable design solution.
We considered that the presently-proposed site would be superior in that it
would remove the development from an extremely sensitive location within view of
Linlithgow Palace and Peel. Consequently, we are very pleased that the
applicants have resubmitted for the site we suggested which is relatively
unobtrusive within the Airngath Hill Area of Great Landscape Value and the
Linlithgow Palace & High Street Outstanding Conservation Area.
The current proposal is well located within its setting, although that
setting could be improved by taking in more land to the south of the building.
It is screened by mature trees, and tree loss would appear to be minimal.
Existing stone walls are retained, thus preserving heritage features such as the
walled garden. The scale, massing, levels, architectural style and materials
seem appropriate for the site, the style, particularly the fenestration,
properly reflecting the 'Tudor' style of listed Bonnytoun House, but the
elevations and roof profiles might benefit from greater variety of detail.
It is noted that the size of the home has been increased back to the original
90 bedspaces, and, as previously intimated, such a scale is acceptable on this
site.
Conclusions
Subject to the above relatively minor caveats, the Civic Trust and the WLHAS
have no objections to this proposal and consider it a good solution in all the
circumstances.
Ronald P A Smith BSc MRTPI
Planning Spokesman, Linlithgow Civic Trust
4 Rivaldsgreen Crescent, Linlithgow, EH49 6BB.
Tel: 01506 670758; Email - planning@lct.org.uk
Date 26 June 2009
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