A HOUSING firm is making a fresh bid to build homes on bitterly contested greenbelt land.

Duntiglennan Fields has been the flash point for years of fights between developers and vocal opposition from politicians and most residents.

Homebuilders Taylor Wimpey previously set their sights on the land off Farm Road in Duntocher but faced unanimous rejection by West Dunbartonshire Council.

When the Scottish Government’s planning reporter approved the plans, the council halted its own local development plan (LDP) to protect the site.

Earlier this year Taylor Wimpey opposed the new LDP2 saying there needed to be an opportunity for builders to use the greenbelt land overlooking the Clyde.

Councillors again pushed back against the idea.

Now rival firm Barratt Homes has submitted a proposal of application to council bosses, kicking off a consultation with area residents, who have previously turned out in force at any meetings to show their opposition.

Residents have already pointed to inadequate road structure for the existing homes, quite apart from “another 100” new ones. There would also be the loss of land in the Kilpatrick Hills.

No details about the number of homes are yet included in the submitted forms and Barratt refused to give specifics.

A spokeswoman said it was “premature” to answer questions about why they were targeting the site and ignoring past opposition from residents and community leaders.

She said: “Barratt Homes will be holding a public consultation event on August 7 between 2pm and 8pm at the West Park Hotel, Great Western Road, Clydebank.

“The housebuilder is already in contact with the local community council and other local groups to advise of the date of this event.

“This event is an opportunity for residents of the local area to view the proposals for the residential development, find out more information and comment on the proposals.

“All comments from this consultation will be detailed in the pre-application consultation report that will accompany a formal planning application.”

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Local councillors are unable to comment once planning applications are submitted but national politicians repeated their objections.

Gil Paterson MSP told the Post: “I haven’t changed my mind on this issue - nothing has changed just because it is a different builder.

“The access to the site is particularly bad which would cause considerable problems for the residents and the houses on the way up to the site and would bring difficulties in the long term.”

Martin Docherty-Hughes MP expressed his own reservations.

He said: “I think local residents will be surprised that a developer has once again brought forward plans for a large-scale housing development at Duntiglennan Fields given the strength of feeling against it.

“The proposal failed last time because of opposition to the erosion of greenbelt land and concerns about the adverse impact on local roads. These remain valid concerns and I’d expect the local community to make clear their views once again.”

Ross Greer MSP agreed with council bosses who have continually pointed to the large number of former industrial sites in West Dunbartonshire suitable for homes.

But he also repeated criticism that the Scottish Government had made it harder for residents to oppose the plans.

He said: “It’s disappointing but not surprising that Barratt have decided to ignore the council’s correct decision to keep this site designated as greenbelt.

“The planning policy already designates more than enough land for housebuilding to meet local demand, so this is more about the profits of a private developer than anything else. That’s no reason to sacrifice greenspace.

“The SNP/Tory stitch up on last month’s Planning Bill means this will be a hard fight for the community. Their backroom deals have denied residents the same right of appeal that developers already have, meaning that the government could easily overrule a decision of the council once Barratt appeal it.

"Given their track record of overruling West Dunbartonshire Council, that feels frustratingly likely.”