Those attending an exhibition on the latest phase of the mixed-use development focused on Armadale Station have given overwhelming support to the proposed first phase of residential housing and a care home.

Armadale Station Community Development highlighted its proposals for 170 homes, a 60 bed care home and associated roads, footpaths, landscaping, play area and SUDS (sustainable urban drainage systems) at Armadale Community Centre on Wednesday 28th April.

Located on land to the west of Station Road and to the north of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway line, and measuring 8.5 hectares (21 acres), the housing and care home development is expected to create 60 permanent and part-time jobs at the care home, not including jobs created during construction.

A proposal of application notice has been lodged with West Lothian Council which initiates a 12-week process of pre-application consultation with the local community, prior to lodging a formal application for planning permission with the Council, expected to be at the beginning of July.

Work will start on site this year should planning permission be granted within 4 months of submission.

These developments mark the latest stage in the £200 million regeneration plan by SDA Ltd, the developers behind Armadale Station Community Development, to bring more than 4,500 permanent jobs to the area, which is situated within the Armadale Core Development Area (CDA). Last September saw the lodging of the application for a new two stream primary school, catering to 222 pupils and 60 nursery places, easing pressure on other primary schools in Armadale.

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In June 2009 a planning application was lodged for a 40,000 sq ft supermarket with car parking for 600 cars, including a park and ride.

The mixed-use Armadale Station Community Development, which occupies c. 120 hectares, also includes a multiplex cinema, restaurants, retail, small business and industrial units, hotel, public parks and up to 1000 new homes – including up to 25% affordable housing.

The receipt from the sale of the supermarket will ensure the new primary school and essential infrastructure and amenities necessary to deliver the vision of Armadale as a thriving growing community in the heart of the central belt of Scotland is achieved. And this development will regenerate not just the area around the station, but will maximise the regeneration of the town as a whole, with money from development staying in Armadale.

Those wanting to see information on the proposed development and feedback can still do so as some key elements from it will be on display at the Community Centre until 14th May.

Comments in writing can be made to: Ewan McIntyre, EMA Architecture + Design Ltd, The Stables, 38 Baileyfield Road, Edinburgh EH15 1NA, email: [email protected]

The deadline to receive comments is Friday 28th May.

Sandra Carter, of SDA Ltd, said: “It was fantastic to see the support both for the housing, care home and our mixed-use development in general. Our aim is to deliver a fully integrated Armadale and the school, supermarket, care home and housing assist in this process. The vision to create a school, parks, businesses and new homes that will stimulate economic growth and benefit this area of West Lothian is well on the way to being realised.

“I would strongly encourage members of the local community who did not have the chance to attend the event to comment online or visit the community centre where they will still have the opportunity to provide feedback.”

(GK)