Planners set to turn down homes plan

PROPOSALS to demolish vacant industrial buildings to create a housing development are set to be refused by West Lothian Planning department.

The site was formerly home to a variety of commercial units and a large house, and the proposals would have seen all of the existing buildings on the site, at Glasgow Road, Bathgate, torn down to make way for a modern development of 54 homes and associated car parking.

But while officials have said the development is acceptable in principle, a lack of capacity at local schools had led to them recommending it be refused.

The developers had submitted a similar application earlier this year, which was turned down for the same reason.

Since then, however, an agreement has been reached to carry out work at Bathgate Academy and St Margaret's Academy, in a bid to address the problem.

There have been no proposals to address the existing capacity issues at the catchment area primary schools, however, and as a result councillors have again been recommended to refuse the plans.

A decision on the proposal is to be taken on Wednesday.