Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 26 August 2025
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 26 August 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Planning and Climate Change Policy Board Date Time Venue Tuesday, 26 August 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Councillor Andy Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Bruce MacFarlane, Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor John McNaughtan, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor John Shaw, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Paterson, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development, D Love, Chief Planning Officer, A Williamson, Strategy & Place Manager, K Dalrymple, Development Plans & Housing Strategy Team Leader, R Lee, Development Standards Manager, J Weir and F Knighton both Senior Planning Officers, J McCafferty and C Murray, both Planner Officers, and A Brady and A McGlone, both Assistant Planner Officers (all Chief Executive’s); J Robertson, Sustainability Manager (Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, V Howie, Finance Business Partner, N Young, Assistant Managing Solicitor (Litigation & Advice), R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Declaration of Interest Councillor Ann-Dowling declared an interest in item 4(a) for professional reasons. Councillor Ann-Dowling indicated that as she had declared an interest she would withdraw from the meeting during any discussion and voting on the item.
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Transparency Statements There were no transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2025/26 as at 27 June 2025 There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Resources for the period 1 April to 27 June 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2026 for those services reporting to this Policy Board was an underspend position of £0.022 million (2.8%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2026 for projects reporting to the Board was a break even position. Section 6 of the report detailed a budget adjustment relative to the establishment of the centralised Sustainability Team. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn underspend position of £0.022m be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn break even position be noted; and (c) That the budget adjustment detailed at section 6 of the report be noted. 2 Tree Preservation Order Requests There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative requests to apply a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designation to a tree at Braids Road, Paisley and trees at a site at Inchinnan Industrial Estate. The requests had been considered in line with the relevant legislation and details of TEMPO assessments, undertaken by an independent arboriculturist in respect of the trees at both locations, were provided within the report. The report highlighted that the criteria for a tree preservation order had not been met in respect of the trees at Inchinnan Business Park however it was recommended that a tree preservation order was made in relation to the tree at Braids Road, Paisley. Following consideration, the Policy Board confirmed that it approved the recommendation detailed in the report in relation to the application for a TPO designation for the tree at Braids Road, Paisley. Councillor Nicolson, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved that consideration of the request to apply a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designation to the trees at the site at Inchinnan Business Park be continued to enable clarification to be provided in relation to information contained in the TEMPO assessment and the assessment provided by the applicant seeking the planning permission. This was agreed unanimously.
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DECIDED: (a) That a Tree Preservation Order be approved in respect of a tree at Braids Road, Paisley and that it be agreed that officers prepare the relevant order, serve it on relevant parties, make the order available to the public and seek representations; and (b) That consideration of the request to apply a Tree Preservation Order designation to the trees at the site at Inchinnan Business Park be continued to enable clarification to be provided in relation to information contained in the TEMPO assessment and the assessment provided by the applicant seeking the planning permission. 3 Developer Contributions (Education) - planning guidance update There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive relative to updated planning guidance issued in respect of Developer Contributions (Education). The report set out finalised planning guidance on developer contributions towards education infrastructure from new housing development in Renfrewshire. Consultation had been undertaken following the publication of a draft version of the guidance, comments considered, and amendments made. A copy of the Developer Contributions (Education) Planning Guidance was attached as Appendix 1 of the report for approval. DECIDED: That the Developer Contributions (Education) Planning Guidance, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved. 4 Planning Applications There were submitted reports by the Chief Planning Officer relative to the following applications for planning permission that required to be determined by the Board. 4(a) 25/0059/PP - Erection of substation with associated apparatus, fencing, de-mountable floodlights and access track at BAE Land - UK Environmental Test Facility, Glenluce Drive, Bishopton by Scottish Power Energy Networks In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the planning application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. 4(b) 22/0647/PP - Erection of residential development including access, drainage, landscaping, and associated works at Site Between Strathgryffe Tennis and Squash Club and, Barochan Road, Houston by Stewart Milne Group Ltd C Murray, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal.
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Councillor Andy Doig indicated that he was of the view that the application should be refused, outlining the main reasons for adopting this position. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2.00 pm and reconvened at 2.10 pm. Councillor McNaughtan, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report and the developer entering into an appropriate legal agreement to secure planning obligations. Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Ann-Dowling moved as an amendment that the application be refused as the development was considered to represent over-development of the site and would have a detrimental impact on local services, community amenities, infrastructure and the wider Houston conservation area. On the roll being called, the following members voted for the motion: Councillors McNaughtan, Nicolson and Smith. The following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Adam, Ann-Dowling, Andy Doig, Gilmour, N Graham, Hannigan, MacFarlane, K MacLaren, McGurk, Paterson and Shaw. 3 members having voted for motion and 11 members having voted for the amendment, the amendment was accordingly declared carried. DECIDED: That the application be refused as the development was considered to represent over-development of the site and would have a detrimental impact on local services, community amenities, infrastructure and the wider Houston conservation area. 4(c) 23/0622/EB - Installation of a solar farm and battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure with a generating capacity of up to 100mw (Energy Consents Unit consultation request) at Site Between Turningshaw Farm and Knowes Farm, Houston Road, Houston, Johnstone by Energy Consents Unit (ECU) Scottish Government J Weir, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the Council submit no objections subject to the conditions detailed within the report and a legal agreement to secure appropriate funding for the decommissioning of the development and the restoration of the site being in place. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the Council submit no objections subject to the conditions detailed within the report and a legal agreement to secure appropriate funding for the decommissioning of the development and the restoration of the site being in place.
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4(d) 25/0232/PP - Installation of a ground-mounted solar array and associated infrastructure at Land at Middleton Farm, Middleton Road, Linwood, PA3 3AG by Bluestone Energy Ltd J Weir, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. 4(e) 25/0241/FUR - Section 42 application to vary planning condition 10 (offsite improvements) of planning permission 20/0510/PP in relation to an alternative footpath location at Former Thornly Park Campus, Caplethill Road, Paisley by Miller Homes Ltd F Knighton, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report and a variation of the existing unilateral undertaking. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report and a variation of the existing unilateral undertaking. 4(f) 25/0370/PP - Erection of 8 holiday cottages with associated landscaping and infrastructure works at Site 350 Metres Northeast of Fodstone Farm, Kilmacolm Road, Bridge of Weir by Mr Douglas Lyle J McCafferty, Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Paterson moved that consideration of the application be continued to a future meeting of this Policy Board to facilitate the submission and assessment of further information and a site visit to be undertaken. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to a future meeting of this Policy Board to facilitate the submission and assessment of further information and a site visit to be undertaken. 4(g) 25/0379/FUR - Section 42 application to vary condition 9 (Drainage Impact Assessment) to include Surface Water Strategy and to remove condition 10 (Surface Water Strategy) of planning permission 22/0236/PP at 57 High Street, Paisley, PA1 2AN by
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Undefined c/o Tinto Architecture F Knighton, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation relative to the proposal. In terms of Standing Order 59 Councillor Paterson moved that the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report. This was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: That the application be granted subject to the conditions and reasons detailed within the report.