Taylor Wimpey is currently undertaking a community engagement exercise in relation to ongoing development at Hopefield, to the south of Bonnyrigg.
Outline planning permission for development of the Hopefield site was granted by Midlothian Council in August 2003. The Midlothian Local Plan 2008 identifies the land at Hopefield as ‘Committed Development’ with Midlothian Council seeking the early implementation of all ‘Committed Development’ sites and associated infrastructure. Parts of the site have already been developed. In accordance with the Section 75 agreement attached to the original planning permission, Taylor Wimpey has already contributed towards the provision of the following community benefits:
1. Contribution towards a denominational secondary school in Dalkeith;
2. Town centre improvements at Bonnyrigg Toll;
3. Provision of new sports facilities at Poltonhall Recreation Ground;
4. A new distributor road providing a link to Rosewell and beyond for traffic coming from the A7 and taking traffic away from Bonnyrigg Toll;
5. Provision of a serviced 12 acre site to Midlothian Council for employment use and job creation;
6. Provision of 3 plots to Midlothian Council at no cost for the provision of 100 affordable homes.
Taylor Wimpey is also committed to provide land for, to construct and to equip a new single stream primary school on the site. This work is expected to be completed within the next 18 to 24 months.
In addition, the former Polton Colliery and mine workings at the centre of the site have been remediated and will form the centre piece of the development as usable open space/play facilities for the new residents and wider community.
The timescale allowed by the outline planning permission for the submission of reserved matters applications for development on the site has now lapsed. Taylor Wimpey intends to submit an application for planning permission under Section 42 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to have the time limit for the approval of reserved matters applications extended for a further five year period. Taylor Wimpey also wish to extend the time limit for carrying out certain transportation improvements until December 2010.
At the same time, Taylor Wimpey is preparing proposals for the development of plots F&G within the Hopefield site for which a detailed application for planning permission is to be prepared and submitted to Midlothian Council. Measuring 3.12 hectares, proposals for this part of the Hopefield Farm site include up to 140 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes with associated infrastructure.
The purpose of the community engagement exercise now being undertaken by Taylor Wimpey is twofold:
1. To seek views from the local community concerning Taylor Wimpey’s detailed proposals for residential development on Plots F&G of the Hopefield Farm site.
2. To inform the local community and seek their views about plans to submit an application to extend the timescale for the submission of reserved matters applications for development on the site and to extend the time limit for carrying out certain off-site transportation improvements;
As part of this exercise, a community engagement event is due to run from Monday the 26th April 2010 – Friday the 30th April 2010 at Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre (Conservatory Area), King George V Park, Bonnyrigg, EH19 2AD at the following times, with members of the project team available to answer questions as detailed:
Monday 26th April – unmanned from 10am-10pm;
Tuesday 27th April – unmanned from 9am-10pm;
Wednesday 28th April / Thursday 29th April – unmanned from 9am and manned from 3pm-9pm;
Friday 30th April – unmanned from 9am-8pm.
During those times when the exhibition is unmanned, members of the local community will still be able to provide feedback in writing using the forms provided.
Further information
The exhibition boards displayed at Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre can be accessed here and here.
Providing feedback
A feedback form can be accessed here. Completed forms should be submitted to Alex Bruce, Indigo, 27 Maritime Street, Edinburgh EH6 6SE / bonnyriggconsultation@taylorwimpey.com / alexbruce@indigopr.com. The deadline for feedback is Friday the 28th May 2010.