PLANS for a major development of around 140 new homes in Cardross have been approved in principle – but the decision is far from the end of the story for the project.

Despite objections from a large number of local residents, Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee agreed on Tuesday to grant permission to Avant Homes’ outline application to develop a site at Kirkton Farm, to the north of the village.

But several members of the committee, at a hearing in the village’s Geilston Hall, made it clear they were granting the application only because they felt they had no other option – after a hotly-disputed decision by a Scottish Government reporter to earmark the six-hectare site for housing.

And the committee has insisted that any future detailed application for the site must come back before them to be considered, rather than being decided by council officers.

Several Cardross residents spoke on Tuesday of their concerns over traffic management proposals for access to and from the site, which would primarily be via Darleith Road, already a narrow and busy street which is home to several homes.

Darleith Road resident Rachel Humphreys called the traffic management plans “laughable” and “absolutely inadequate”.

And Morag Elliot said: “I don’t see how we can say we will accept in principle a proposal when there are so many gaping holes in it.

“What we want is an informed choice and I’m not sure we’re getting that.”

Committee chair David Kinniburgh, who is also one of Cardross’s local councillors, said: “The reporter’s decision, quite frankly, amazed me. When the local development plan was going through the consultation process I had concerns about the access to the site, and I still have concerns today about the access to the site. I also have concerns about pedestrian access to the site, and to Cardross Primary School.”

That view was echoed by another of Cardross’s councillors, Richard Trail, who said: “Local councillors, and the community council, all feel it’s unfortunate that the Scottish Government reporter chose Kirkton Farm as the site to be developed, and not one to the other side of the main road, where access wouldn’t be an issue.

“But we’re faced with the position we are in now as a result of that decision.

“The community’s views concentrated on the road safety issue, and your concerns are perfectly valid.

“I have to take some comfort in the proposal that we will get a chance to review the details of the development if a further detailed application comes forward.”

Lomond North councillor George Freeman said: “The principle of development has already been set when the local development plan was approved. Lots of detailed issues have been raised today which can’t be covered in this application, because it’s an application for planning permission in principle.

“I’m not happy to approve the application as it stands and leave it to officers to finalise the detail without the involvement of members.”

Cllr Kinniburgh moved that the application be continued for further investigation, but Cllr Freeman’s amendment – to grant permission subject to the detailed application being considered by the committee, rather than officers – won on the day by six votes to three.

Sandra Davies from the council’s planning department said Cardross residents would get a fresh chance to comment on Avant Homes’ when a detailed planning application is submitted.