Concerned neighbours fight plans for huge new housing estate with 452 homes

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Kilmarnock residents are fighting plans to build a mammoth housing estate with 452 new homes.Locals have raised fears over increased flooding and traffic along with the loss of green space and a possible impact on wildlife at the proposed Shortlees site.Developers want to build 335 private and 117 affordable homes on parcels of land hunkered between Loreny Drive, Ayr Road and the A77 Kilmarnock bypass.SEPA has objected to plans as they fall "partly within the functional floodplain".Woodland Trust Scotland has also waded into the argument to voice their strong objection to the blueprints.The UK’s leading woodland conservation charity has the aim of protecting ancient woodlands across the country.The group "strongly objects" to the development due to the proposed direct loss and damage to an area of "Long Established woodland of Plantation Origin (LEPO) designated as such on the Ancient Woodland Inventory".Woodland as such falls into the second-highest category the charity fights to protect with plantation of this kind can be hundreds of years old.An eight-point letter accompanies the objection which touches on the effects that the activity of humans and pets can have on wildlife, vegetation with concerns around general damage, trampling, litter and fire damage, along with light, noise and dust pollution.Private homes will consist of terrace, semi-detached, detached and townhouse - in a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes.Affordable properties come in the form of cottage flats, wheelchair bungalows, ambulant disabled bungalows, and four, five, six and eight person homes - in a mixture of two, three, four and five bedroom dwellings.Dozens of residents have already formally objected to proposals too.One local who