Residents against 'devastating' loss of trees for Paisley development

Glasgow Times

07-06-2025

Planning permission for the construction of more than 600 homes on the site off Grahamston Road was initially declined by Renfrewshire Council in 2021 but was then granted with conditions in 2021 by a Scottish Government Reporter.
Another planning application went in last year to remove trees on the site that was again refused by the council twice, before being granted by a Scottish Government Reporter.
Grounds of Dykebar Hospital (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Clare says she is concerned that because planning permission has been given to remove the trees before all planning conditions for the development have been met, they could be felled unnecessarily.
The 50-year-old said: 'I thought the original one [planning proposal] intended to preserve the trees but apparently not.
"The most recent application was to allow the developer to remove the trees before any construction starts.
"This again was refused by the council, the developer appealed to the council, and they refused again and then the developer has appealed to the Scottish reporter who has then approved it.
"I've been told it effectively means they could remove all the trees before meeting the conditions of the original planning application.
"It seems so devastating to potentially lose all or any of those trees unnecessarily before they've met all the conditions of the plans."
(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Cala Homes, Bellway House and Barrett Homes will be building 603 houses with Cala Homes stating on their website they expect the first residents to move in in 2027.
Mum-of-two Clare has lived near the site for around 12 years, but as she resides in Barrhead she feels 'powerless' to do anything about it.
She said: "There are a lot of people who feel strongly about it.
"It's wider than just the people who live right next to the site."
She continued: "I'm not in the council area but it affects everyone who lives nearby but I'm powerless to say anything because I'm not a resident of Renfrewshire."
(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Clare is also frustrated that despite the local council rejecting the plans, a Scottish Government reporter from "who lives out with the area" made the decision to approve the plans.
Campaign group Save Paisley's Green Space (SPGS), who have been vocal in their opposition to the development, started a petition on Change.org two months ago calling for planning permission at Dykebar to be revoked.
The petition states: "SPGS argues that the planning permission is erroneous and warrants revocation to prevent huge environmental damage and to protect the community and remaining countryside amenity of Paisley South."
At the time of writing, it has gathered more than 1880 signatures.
(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Both the SPGS and Clare also say they believe the development goes against the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy 6 which says: "b) development proposals will not be supported where they will result in:
"i. Any loss of ancient woodlands, ancient and veteran trees, or adverse impact on their ecological condition;
"ii. Adverse impacts on native woodlands, hedgerows and individual trees of high biodiversity value, or identified in the Forestry and Woodland Strategy."
Clare says the green space is valuable to the local community, as well as being home to wildlife such as deer, foxes, buzzards and woodpeckers.
She said: "When you walk around, you see a lot of people out walking their dogs or running.
"It's used recreationally by a lot of people.
"The thought of that space being lost forever is really sad and it's got to the point now where I almost don't want to go there because it's too upsetting thinking it's not going to be there anymore.
"For people who appreciate trees and wild open space, it's a really special place."
(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "An independent reporter from DPEA granted approval for the redevelopment of the former Dykebar Hospital in March 2023.
"The reporter was required to make their decision on the planning merits of the case taking full account of all the information submitted by parties involved, including members of the local community.
"Scottish Ministers appointed a reporter to consider the appeal of the decision of Renfrewshire Council to refuse tree works consent in respect of tree removal and pruning along the north and eastern boundary of the Dykebar Hospital grounds.
"The reporter allowed the appeal and planning permission was approved at appeal."