Builders could be on site by August

A report on the prospective Link Housing development on ‘The Greens’, in Kirkintilloch, was presented to East Dunbartonshire councillors recently.

It contains an outline timetable showing a start date of August 2014, despite no planning permission having been obtained for the planned 32 homes.

The same timetable shows that a decision on planning approval is expected at the council’s planning board on March 11. The application could receive a number of objections - with some local residents already up in arms.

And many see the ‘timetable’ as an admission that development chiefs and councillors have already made up their mind to green-light the development before the planning process kicks in.

One householder who lives nearby said: “The whole thing is ridiculous.

“How can councillors vote on something like this at the planning board when they have already shown that they want it to proceed?”

Thomas Glen, the council’s director for development and regeneration, said: “The council has received a planning application from Link Group Ltd and it is currently going through the validation process.

“Once validated neighbours will be notified and they will have 21 days to lodge any representations.

“No decision has been taken and the planning application will be subject to rigorous examination.

“Link Group provided an indicative timescale for the project based on planning guidelines for considering an application and this was presented to a meeting of the full council.

“These timescales are not fixed and are subject to planning consent being obtained.”