Sergeants Park Phase 1- 53 affordable dwellings see diagram below
Webmaster comments as follows on Phase 1 development :-
Pros
- The social house development will provide 64 dwellings towards the Scottish governments 12,000 house per year target equalling 0.005 %.
- No priority is guaranteed for Newtown people as tenants.
- Of the first 19 dwellings occupied in Phase1 only 5 residents were from Newtown.
- Phase I and 2 will potentially generate 270 new residents using existing local services. i.e Health Centre, School etc. but developer is not required to provide any funds to accommodate the increase in the number of residents because they are affordable housing.
- SBC Local Plan for village has always been of mixed type houses with the private houses giving a significant funding contribution towards improved local services and village improvements.
- The Sergeants Park developments will not provide any funds for Schools, Health Centre expansion or any other village improvements or services apart from a token amount for children’s play equipment.
- This development contravenes assurances given by the Council over the past 10 years not to have a piecemeal development of the village.
- No answer is forth coming from SBC on source of funding to meet increased demand on local services.
- There was much uncertainty about existing main sewage capacity with complaints from Sprouston Road residents about sewage overflow from toilets during heavy rain conditions. An sewage capacity upgrade was only agreed after representation was made to the planning authority by the village for it to be made a 'condition' of planning approval. This was agreed and since then work now completed.
- Existing road will be under strain with increased level of traffic which could be some 150- 200 extra cars.
- The development is a cul de sac funneling all traffic down Sergeants Park and Sprouston Road which has no off road parking space making roadway narrow and congested with parked cars.
- There is no certainty about the additional housing development providing a new access road to the Bowden Road which we are advised would provide an alternative road access to the single lane Sprouston Road.
The developer has shown short comings :–
Poor communications with Village Community Council
Insufficient land given for Right of Way path to give SBC specified 2m clear width.
No contact details given to village for landowner responsible to cut hawthorn hedge.
No R of W path upgrade despite many requests – was a condition of the Planning Approval.
So far no path down onto football pitch and School as shown on PA drawing.
Surface water drainage system inadequate with water flooding from upper field onto Phase 1 development.
Stagnant water remaining in SUDS pond during dry weather.
No reason given to community concerning the serious SUDs pond overflow.
Suds pond leaking down path and onto football pitch when pond is half full.
Before approval 17 trees were shown on the landscape diagram on SBC website when village was asked for any comments on the overall proposal but when the development was completed no trees were planted despite requests from village community council.
Sergeants Park Phase 2 - 64 houses see diagram below
Work is now in progress with leveling the site and building the 64 'affordable' residences approved by the planning authority. It is a joint venture between applicant Queensberry Properties Ltd, who will construct the houses, and the Eildon Housing Association (EHA) which will manage the units and rent them out at “social housing rent levels”.
After representations were made by the village at the planning approval meeting when the decision was postponed whilst SBC were asked to carry out a mini-study to consider the implications of the PA on the wider community services. i.e. School capacity, Health Centre, Sewage capacity, road capacity etc.
However the findings of the SBC study were not made available to the public before the recalled meeting was held where SBC confirmed they had found no problems with capacities and on this basis the planning approval was granted without further questions. However before the decision was made the village representatives in attendance were not allowed to ask questions or make any comments on the findings of the SBC study which they knew to be highly questionable.
Work is now in progress with leveling the site and building the 64 'affordable' residences approved by the planning authority. It is a joint venture between applicant Queensberry Properties Ltd, who will construct the houses, and the Eildon Housing Association (EHA) which will manage the units and rent them out at “social housing rent levels”.
After representations were made by the village at the planning approval meeting when the decision was postponed whilst SBC were asked to carry out a mini-study to consider the implications of the PA on the wider community services. i.e. School capacity, Health Centre, Sewage capacity, road capacity etc.
However the findings of the SBC study were not made available to the public before the recalled meeting was held where SBC confirmed they had found no problems with capacities and on this basis the planning approval was granted without further questions. However before the decision was made the village representatives in attendance were not allowed to ask questions or make any comments on the findings of the SBC study which they knew to be highly questionable.
For information on ‘How to apply’ see below copy of Email from Eildon Housing Association
From: Ronnie Dumma
Sent: Friday, December 9, 2016 7:43 AM
Subject: New Build Development at Sergeants Park, Newtown St Boswells
Roger
I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 8 December and sent to Enquiries at Eildon HA.
The development has just commenced in late November. It is for 53No houses and flats, is an18 month contract and completion is due in sections between March-June 2018.
Details of properties can be had from Eildon HA website at the link below – see Future sites which will give you details of property sizes being built. This link will only be available until Monday (12th December) when we launch our new website. The new website will contain the same information but a different link. I will send you a link next week when Website launched.
http://www.eildon.org.uk/2/78/Current-and-Future-Developments-by-Eildon-Housing-Association.aspx
Information on ‘How to Apply’ is contained in the link below. Eildon HA operate a choice based lettings system with all properties advertised each week – new build and voids – in the Southern Reporter under Borders Choice Homes advert. To apply for properties you need to be registered with Borders Choice Homes and details are contained in the link in how to register. New build properties are usually advertised in the Southern around 6-8 weeks before becoming available. The Sergeants Park properties will be advertised, assuming no delays to project, sometime early 2018.
https://www.homehunt.info/PublicPages/Faq.aspx#c1eb905d-5531-4b6e-8ca5-5bcf86293549
I hope the above is sufficient for your purposes at this stage but should you require any further information please contact myself.
Regards
Ronnie
Ronnie Dumma MRICS
Development Manager
Eildon Housing Association
Tel 01750 724871 (DD)
From: Ronnie Dumma
Sent: Friday, December 9, 2016 7:43 AM
Subject: New Build Development at Sergeants Park, Newtown St Boswells
Roger
I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 8 December and sent to Enquiries at Eildon HA.
The development has just commenced in late November. It is for 53No houses and flats, is an18 month contract and completion is due in sections between March-June 2018.
Details of properties can be had from Eildon HA website at the link below – see Future sites which will give you details of property sizes being built. This link will only be available until Monday (12th December) when we launch our new website. The new website will contain the same information but a different link. I will send you a link next week when Website launched.
http://www.eildon.org.uk/2/78/Current-and-Future-Developments-by-Eildon-Housing-Association.aspx
Information on ‘How to Apply’ is contained in the link below. Eildon HA operate a choice based lettings system with all properties advertised each week – new build and voids – in the Southern Reporter under Borders Choice Homes advert. To apply for properties you need to be registered with Borders Choice Homes and details are contained in the link in how to register. New build properties are usually advertised in the Southern around 6-8 weeks before becoming available. The Sergeants Park properties will be advertised, assuming no delays to project, sometime early 2018.
https://www.homehunt.info/PublicPages/Faq.aspx#c1eb905d-5531-4b6e-8ca5-5bcf86293549
I hope the above is sufficient for your purposes at this stage but should you require any further information please contact myself.
Regards
Ronnie
Ronnie Dumma MRICS
Development Manager
Eildon Housing Association
Tel 01750 724871 (DD)