PLANS for a new “village” between Barrhead and Newton Mearns are due to be submitted for approval.

A proposal of application notice has been presented submitted, which details ambitious plans to build a new community exclusively for people over the age of 55.

It is thought that, should the plans be approved, the development would be the first of its kind in Scotland.

A similar development was refused in 2015, after objections from the community, social health and care partnership and Glasgow Airport.

The village would be built in the site of the former Netherplace Works factory, and would be almost entirely self contained – including a “village centre” with shops and entertainment facilities.

The development would be built across the road from Whitecraigs Rugby Club and immediately adjacent to the M77 motorway.

The previous development proposal, submitted by Persimmon Homes in late 2014, was met with opposition across the board.

The Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) said that there is no case for a care home in Newton Mearns, and that the developer has made assumptions about the area’s demographics.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport also had its reservations as the site was, and remains, without public transport.

The new application is being submitted by Glasgow-based Jewitt and Wilkie Architects on behalf of Newton Mearns Projects Ltd, a company that is registered to an address in Renfrew Road in Paisley.

The previous application, which is now not thought to be related, outlined plans for a 55-bed care home and 360 apartments in the retirement village.

However, details for the new planning application are thin on the ground, and the full extent of the development will not be known until the full planning application is submitted to East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) in about 12 weeks time.

The scale of the development means that only a full meeting of ERC can approve the plans.