A new Scottish Government reporter has been put in charge of the appeal over plans for 33 homes on Thriplee Road in Bridge of Weir, after the official first given the case stepped aside.
The appeal has now been allocated to reporter Declan King. The original reporter was formally replaced on Friday 23 October after it emerged she had an indirect connection to the agent for the Hammerhead Trust, a residents' group opposing the development. The appeals division said it did not expect any issue of perceived bias, but confirmed earlier this month that, once concerns had been raised, she would not decide the case.
What is proposed
The plans, from James (Glasgow) Ltd, a company whose directors include Rangers legend Ally McCoist and Jeffrey East, are for four detached houses, six semi-detached houses and 23 flats split across three blocks. The number of homes was cut from 38 to 33 earlier this year.
Council planning officers recommended approval, subject to conditions and a legal agreement covering commitments such as an education contribution. But Renfrewshire Council's planning and climate change policy board refused the application in May, with council leader Iain Nicolson saying the flats would be "incongruous" with the surrounding area and landscape.
Both sides make their case
The developer appealed to Scottish Ministers in August, arguing the refusal was "unjustifiable" because it was not backed by any objection from statutory consultees, any contrary technical assessment or the advice of the council's own planners.
The council has asked for the refusal to be upheld. Its response says the three blocks of flats do not fit the lower-scale homes around Thriplee Road and Carruth Road, particularly given the height and slope of the site, and raises concerns about how the scheme would sit next to the Ranfurly Conservation Area.
The application drew 395 objections, covering issues including traffic, biodiversity and pressure on local infrastructure, along with 63 letters of support.
The target date for a decision remains Tuesday 3 November.