COMMUNITY leaders are up in arms over a move to build houses on an historic site in Neilston, writes David Carnduff.

Contractors have been carrying out tests on land at Kirkstyle Lane – known locally as Pig Square – as Barrhead Housing Association (BHA) considers transforming it into a residential development.

However, Neilston Community Council has said villagers will be outraged if the plan to build social rented housing goes ahead.

John Scott, community council chairman, told the News: “Pig Square is there for the common good of the village. It’s basically our village green.”

Shirley Robison, BHA chief executive, has confirmed that “site investigations” at Pig Square have been completed and the association will now consider its next move.

She said: “We had discussions with East Renfrewshire Council last October about taking forward this site for inclusion in their Strategic Housing Investment Plan, which went out to consultation last year.

“We also met with Neilston Development Board around that time to discuss the possibility of developing Pig Square.

“This particular site was part of the original Neilston Charter, completed in 2008 after extensive consultation, and earmarked as a housing site.

“Unfortunately, since 2008, the economic downturn across the country has led to little development activity for housing associations like BHA.

“However, the Scottish Government now has a target of delivering 50,000 new affordable homes across the country during this current parliament – 35,000 of these are for social rented housing.

“For East Renfrewshire, this includes establishing whether Pig Square can be developed for affordable social rented housing.”

Ms Robison said the site investigations were carried out to establish whether or not Pig Square is suitable for development.

The costs of the work, which included test bores of the subsoil, are being met by BHA.

Ms Robison added: “The site investigations have been completed physically but we await the detailed report.

“We should be able to report on the findings to our governing board in the coming weeks.

“This will establish whether, in fact, the site can be developed.”

Ms Robison said the design team would consider the findings from the site investigations to establish what development opportunities are possible, within the association’s financial constraints.

She added: “If this information and report is positive, we will definitely be in a position to make available information to the wider community and answer any questions they may have.

“We will then be able to provide site drawings, layouts and property sizes which will be of interest to everyone.”