SGLH recently submitted a consultation response to East Ayrshire Council in relation to a residential development comprising 452 dwellings and associated works, including access, parking, landscaping, open-space and SuDS on land on the B7038 south of Kilmarnock.

Whilst not wishing to object to the application we would strongly advise that conditions are set to the granting of any planning permission to the application protect the remaining landscape including:

• Protection of the settings of the three listed structures, Treesbank House, Stables and Doocot in line with advice contained Historic Environment Scotland’s ‘Managing Change in the Historic Environment’ – ‘Setting’ publication.
• As the proposed development site, together with the balance of the designed landscape appear to be in the same ownership, we would advise that sufficient conservation and repair works are carried out to the A-Listed Doocot and C-Listed Stables to allow their removal from the Buildings at Risk Register.
• The protection of all trees to be retained within the development site together with those adjacent in the remaining area of the Treesbank designed landscape, including the areas designated as Ancient Woodland.

The preparation of Conservation and Woodland Management Plans for the balance of the Treesbank designed landscape to conserve and manage this green space on the southern fringes of Kilmarnock for the future.  You can read our full response here.