Green belt: not out the woods yet

However, Conservative group leader Gordon Wallace has warned residents that this may not be the last they hear from developer CALA homes.

He told The Extra: “While developers may have withdrawn their application, there is nothing to say it won’t reappear in the future. I would advise campaigners to remain vigilant.”

A spokesman for the Save Eaglesham Village campaign added: “We are mindful of the tactic of removing an application to resubmit come the holiday period.”

Last year, CALA withdrew a proposal for a similar development in Waterfoot Park before resubmitting an application which was later approved.

Jim Murphy MP and Ken Macintosh MSP began a petition against the plan to build 36 houses and 12 flats on the Humbie Road greenbelt.

Jim Murphy said: “When an area of East Ren has been designated as ‘green belt’ it should remain that way.”

Mr Macintosh added: “More than 90 per cent of residents who responded to our survey agreed with our position that the land should remain undeveloped.

“Hopefully any further applications to develop will be swiftly rejected.”

However, a spokeswoman for CALA Homes suggested the company’s plans to build in East Renfrewshire are not over yet.

She told The Extra: “CALA Homes remains interested in a number of locations in East Renfrewshire to build a selection of new luxury family detached homes. The sites are at various stages of the planning process.”