Fears of students complaining about noise leads to planning refusal
9 Nov 2017
Plans to build a student halls’ complex in Stornoway have been thrown out for the second time.
The comhairle’s planning board refused planning permission to erect a 60 room complex plus a 65 space carpark opposite the council offices on Sandwick Road.
A recently constructed shared temporary accommodation hostel and an existing hotel flank the site.
Developer Cityheart wanted to construct a “L” shaped complex for students studying at the Lews Castle College.
The application was rejected because it went against the local development plan by introducing a residential use immediately adjacent to the existing Newton commercial and industrial area.
Despite measures to combat noise, students could complain which could restrict operations of adjacent established industrial and transport businesses, the committee heard.
The council’s own environmental health section warned that students could raise complaints about noise from nearby firms.
The adjacent builders merchants yard and hauliers depot both have 24 hour operations including vehicles and machinery operating.
It meant lorries and forklift trucks -
Residents moving in would have been legally entitled to make a noise complaint even though the source of the nuisance existed there many years ago.
Planners said it was also likely that the development would result in benefits to the wider local economy.
A report said: “The investment in student facilities and growth of UHI with potentially 60 students resident in the proposed development would add vitality to the local economy.
Councillors were told that noise levels could have been reduced to acceptable levels by fitting acoustic glazing to the windows overlooking the Newton area.
In addition, installing a mechanical ventilation system would allow windows to remain closed.
An intervening buffer of land landscaped with earthen mounds and planted with trees was also proposed.
Last year planning permission was turned down for an application to construct a four-