Tuesday May 12th 2026
The six acre site off Abercromby Crescent where Cala will build new homes (credit: West Lothian Council)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Cala Homes has won planning permission for revised plans to develop a site in East Calder after changing road layout proposals.
An Initial plan for 69 homes on land adjacent to Abercromby Gardens in Calderwood attracted 99 objections.
But a redraw cutting the number of homes and changing the access road saw the number of objectors drop to three.
However SNP councillors questioned whether any more homes should be agreed for the area given the existing pressures on the local GP surgery.
Councillors on the Development Management Committee heard that the initial plan detailed access from Abercromby Crescent.
A report to committee added: “This proposal attracted substantial objection from existing residents at Abercromby Crescent and Anderson Crescent. Core to the objections was the number of units and resultant impact of taking access to the site through the existing housing and the impacts that it would have on the shared surface road environment, with objectors finding it would severely harm amenity and road safety.”
The report added: “These concerns from residents led to Cala revising the proposal. The application is now for 54 houses and 4 flats, total 58 units, a reduction of 11 units from the original proposal. Vehicular access is no longer to be taken from Abercromby Crescent, but from the B7015 at the south of the site.”
The private sale housing consists of 43 units, being a mix of 3 bedroom terraced and 4 and 5 bedroom detached homes. All properties will be two storey in height. 4.10
Affordable housing will be provided on-site, consisting of 15 units, this meeting the 25% requirement. The affordable housing is a mix of 1 bedroom cottage flats, 2 and 3 bedroom terraced and 4 bedroom semi-detached homes.
Councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting: he had concerns about the issue of the health centre in East Calder which is already at capacity.
And he added: “The local retail centre for Calderwod has now passed its delivery date. It is unacceptable.”
He pointed to the situation in Bathgate where the shopping centre for Wester Inch was not brought forward until 20 years after the bulk of housing was built and when the centre was proposed it included far fewer retail units and more housing.
Councillor Pauline Clark said: “I do appreciate that the developer has listened to local people and has been prepared to change the access but my main concern is the lack of access to health care. This plan means there will be at least another 54 bodies without access to proper health care.”
In a vote the committee backed the plans by four to two.
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