Winchburgh firm told that van sales lot is now a non-starter

The community council and Winchburgh Developments Ltd objected to new plans to use the Main Street to sell commercial vehicles.

Planners had backed 2021 proposals to build on the site, which sits at the heart of the old village main street now being upgraded to complement the rapidly expanding community.

Its retention as a vehicle sales lot would have an “adverse impact on the residential and environmental amenity of the area” planning officers told the development management committee.

Owner Andrew Nisbet proposed new boundary fencing around the site with trees in planters in addition to a new wall and fencing in order to improve the street frontage and aid landscaping and screening of the site. The site would be used to sell vans and commercial vehicles.

In a report to the DMC, planning officers said: “While the applicant has tried to alleviate concerns over the appearance of the development through the provision of additional boundary treatment and landscaping, it is the principle of the development that is unacceptable.

“The development is incompatible with the surrounding village uses due to its industrial scale and character. The proposed use would not result in a satisfactory visual street scene.”

In a written objection, the community council said: “The applicant has an existing application in progress to build a residential development on the same plot – which of these uses is the applicant planning to use? The proposal would be detrimental to the visual amenity of Main Street.”

Speaking for Winchburgh Developments Ltd, which is overseeing the expansion of the village, planning consultant Robin Matthew told councillors: “The proposal as it stands does not enhance or contribute to the vitality of the village centre. It is not compatible with the surrounding area and affects the amenity of the area.

“That is not to say that WDL objects to storage use within Winchburgh. The point here is that it is not an appropriate location. There are suitable alternative sites available for such use.”

Councillor Pauline Clark told the meeting: “I have a lot of sympathy for the applicant but, taking into account new planning regulations, I think housing would be a much better development for the site. I don’t think it’s the right place to sell vans from.”

Her SNP colleague Councillor Willie Boyle said: “I have sympathies because it is an established business but the changes in planning laws and in the village itself will mean demand for the area will become more popular. This is the wrong type of business.”

Chairing the meeting, Councillor Stuart Borrowman agreed that an alternative development would enhance the village.

The Star and Garter was demolished in the 1990s and the site has been used for vehicle storage since 2015. The firm was told to clear the site of vehicles after a planning application failed in 2019. A subsequent appeal to the Scottish Government failed.

In November 2021 Mr Nisbet won permission to build up to four flats on the site.