Monday September 14th 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
A prime greenfield site in Livingston will be developed for housing. The seven acre site in north Livingston lies just off the Toll Roundabout.
The site has long been earmarked for development and housebuilder Cruden has won permission to build a reduced number of homes – 64 houses and flats on the site after pledging to improve access roads and preserve existing tree belts where possible.
The proposed development will deliver a mix of homes and includes affordable housing- 52 houses and 12 flats. This total number also includes 16 affordable housing consisting of 12 cottage flats, 2 semi-detached houses and 2 semi-detached bungalows.
Councillors on the Development Management Committee heard the site is almost eight acres in size and incorporates a seven acres developable area of ground, an existing mature tree belt to the north and a section of the B7015 (Old Cousland Road) which provides access to the site from the north within the application site boundary.
Until around 2005, the B7015 was the main road leading from Livingston Village towards Seafield. The A705 was then extended from Toll Roundabout to Simpson Parkway and the B7015 was stopped up.
There were eight objections to the plan including one from Livingston Village Community Council. Loss of green space was a major concern. One objector said the council should give thought to “ an area regularly used by walkers, cyclists access to the core paths which have been enjoyed by the entire and extended communities in the area and careful consideration for alternative arrangements for the access to this development which should aim to protect the wildlife, dog-walkers and access to the core walking and cycling paths which are regularly used within the area and should remain closed for through traffic.”
The site has long been earmarked for housing development. A report to the planning committee said: “It is acknowledged that the development of brownfield sites within settlements would be supported where the location is acceptable and where the development of the site is supported by the development plan. This site has been allocated as a housing development site since 2018 and there was the potential for a much higher density development to have been constructed on this site with greater impact on the existing tree belt.
“For this current application, a significantly larger area of the existing tree belt on the north of the site is being retained.”
Representatives from Cruden gave assurances about tree protection and tree planting schemes as well as explained design work to minimise noise disturbance from the road to the new homes
Councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting “This is a gateway site and I’m delighted at what I have heard from the developers. I welcome it.
Councillor Damian Doran Timson spoke of his frustration at the loss of greenfield. “There are some positives within this but again I’m frustrated that a third of the site is greenfield, and putting more houses in the area is unfortunate.”
Councillor Pauline Clark said she hoped that redesign of Old Cousland Road would still be able to accommodate walkers and cyclists.
Chairing the committee, Councillor Harry Cartmill said: “I have been reassured in terms of the minimum disruption to trees and I’m reassured that work will be done to accommodate walkers and cyclists during the construction process.”
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