OUTLINE plans for a development of 16 new homes in Tarbert have been approved by council bosses.

The proposal from 'the executors of the late Robert Crawford' could see 16 residential units built on land southwest of Creag Glas.

No representations, expressing support or objection, were received from the public by Argyll and Bute Council’s planning officers.

An officer said in a handling report: “The nature of the application seeks to establish the principle of developing residential units on an identified potential development area (PDA) and as such no detailed layout, design or infrastructure details have been submitted.

“However, an indicative layout has been submitted in support of the application demonstrating the potential number of units that could be achieved within the site. However, these are subject to change.

“The allocation is associated with a number of identified key constraints and in this instance, it is considered a necessary guide to the assessment of this application.

“The constraints include nature conservation constraints; access onto a trunk road, steeply sloping topography, an affordable housing requirement (a minimum of 25 per cent), open space and playing space requirements.

“With this in mind, consideration has been given to the planning policy statement submitted with the application which notes that the ancient woodland inventory (AWI) and semi-natural ancient woodland (SNAW) which snakes southward from the centre of the site, limits the site’s ability for deliverable number of units.”

A planning policy statement for the application, submitted by agents Bidwells, said: “As per the allocation for this site, it is proposed to develop a 16-unit residential development; four units would be affordable, and the remaining 12 would be detached three or four-bedroom units.

“Access to the site is proposed to be east of the access for the B8024, where sufficient visibility would be achieved.

“The transport planning statement submitted alongside this application confirms that access being taken 65m east of the existing Kilberry Junction would allow sufficient visibility.

“Development would take cognise of the site’s existing tree cover; therefore, the proposed dwellings have been sited to ensure there is very little impact on the ancient woodland on site.”