Haddockston Golf Course Extension EIA Scoping Report

2 The Proposed Site and Existing Context
2.1 SITE LOCATION
2.1.1 The location of the proposed site is presented on Figure 1.1. The site covers an area of approximately 22
hectares in total and is located in the northern part of Renfrewshire. The site is centred on National Grid Reference
coordinates 239500, 670500. As previously described, Kilmacolm is located approximately 2.5 kilometres (km) to the
west, Bishopton approximately 3.7km to the west and Langbank approximately 2km to the north. The Dargavel Burn
forms the northern boundary of the site.
2.2 SITE DESCRIPTION
2.2.1 The site generally slopes down from north to south with the lowest point being the southern boundary formed
by West Glen Road.
2.2.2 The site can be divided into a combination of formal landscaped areas close to Haddockston House and
along the main access drive into the estate, amenity grassland which currently makes up the 9-hole golf course, ponds
and burns which feed into Haddockston Loch and mixed plantation woodlands dominated by exotic conifers and nonnative
broadleaves.
2.2.3 Lochside House, which is a private residence and therefore not included within the proposed development, is
situated downslope approximately 50m to the west of Haddockston House.
2.2.4 In the woodlands to the west of Haddockston House, there is evidence that the site was formerly open
ground with scattered mature, largely non-native trees. These trees are dominated by Norway maple (Acer
platanoides) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), as well as some ash (Fraxinus excelsior), birch (Betula sp) and
one veteran rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). The plantation woodland in the eastern site area comprises mainly conifers.
2.2.5 The Dargavel Burn flows through a steeply sided gorge which forms the northern boundary of the site.
2.2.6 The site is set in a wider area of primarily agricultural land and is surrounded by improved pasture and arable
fields and conifer and broadleaf woodland.
2.3 POLICY CONTEXT
2.3.1 At present, the statutory development plan for the proposed site comprises:
The Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan, 2000; and
The Renfrewshire Local Plan, 2006.
2.3.2 These will remain in force until superseded by the new forms of development plan introduced under the
Planning etc (Scotland) Act, 2006.
2.3.3 Under the new system, Renfrewshire Council will be responsible for preparing a Local Development Plan
which will replace the Renfrewshire Local Plan and the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Planning Authority will
be responsible for the preparation of the Strategic Development plan for the area which will replace the Approved
Structure Plan.
2.3.4 Each chapter of the ES will consider the detailed policy context for that environmental topic in relation to
compliance contained within whichever of the statutory development plans is in place at the time of writing. A
separate planning policy chapter will however be included to discuss overarching policies, policies which relate to a
number of technical environmental disciplines and matters of development strategy insofar as they relate to the
environment.
2.3.5 Due cognisance will also be taken of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Policy Guidelines
(NPPG), Planning Advice Notes (PAN), Scottish Executive Circulars, SEPA Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG)
and other national, regional and local policy as relevant to the EIA.
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