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Ward event – Proposed housing development impact in Heathhall, 15 May 2025
Twenty-nine local residents attended a meeting with the four Lochar Ward Councillors, along with staff from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland, and Wheatley Homes South. The meeting was held to talk about how new and planned housing developments in Heathhall might affect things like roads, safety, schools, and local services.
Councillor Linda Dorward led the meeting, supported by Heathhall Community Council and Ward Officer Derek Hextall.
Community representatives and residents shared their concerns during the event and Dumfries and Galloway Council thanks them for their contribution.
For more information or to discuss this feedback, please contact:
Derek Hextall, Ward Officer, Lochar Ward
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07834 567869
Overview of community concerns
The main concerns raised were:
- increased traffic and pressure on the local road network
- limited capacity in local schools to accommodate more children
- potential for anti-social behaviour linked to population growth
- a general feeling that Heathhall does not currently have the infrastructure or services needed to support more housing
| You said | We will … or we can’t because… | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The recent disruption from roadworks on the A701 has caused significant congestion and increase in travel time for local residents in Heathhall. What can be done to ensure that road safety is a priority with a potential increase in traffic with new housing? |
Transport Assessment:
As part of the planning application process, a robust Transport Assessment has to be submitted and will be scrutinised by Officers from our council Roads Service, who are a statutory consultee and will provide expert analysis on its application. You can view the supporting documentation and the planning application documents submitted for Catherinefield Farm. Furthermore, a Transport Assessment has previously been prepared for the first phase of development and a revised scope was outlined to the applicant whereby additional considerations were to be factored and mitigation measures determined. Kevin Morrison, Roads Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 2 |
Speed bumps have been taken away from Herries Avenue. Are they being reinstated? Is it policy to have speed bumps in 20 mph zones? What traffic calming measures are being considered? |
Further to resurfacing works on Herries Avenue, the decision was made to remove the speed cushions on Herries Avenue, and replace with 20 roundels, as Heathhall now has a blanket 20mph speed limit. We would note that the requirement for physical traffic calming in the form of speed cushions and round topped humps to indicate a permanent 20mph speed limit (“Zone”) are no longer applicable under amendments to The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. These features have been replaced with upright speed limit repeater signs and road markings which have been added to the prescribed list of traffic calming features. Tony Topping, Road Strategy, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 3 | With the Curries Yard development, parking on the adjacent road has become a problem and has become dangerous at peak times, particular at the junction for the A701 and sight lines from Herries Avenue. What can be done about this? Have double yellow lines been considered? |
The Local Roads Authority have been made aware of inconsiderate parking at this location and have undertaken several site visits to observe parking behaviours. We have written to a local garage as aware that employees have been using Heathhall Road for parking during the day. We will continue to monitor and arrange a site meeting with Police Scotland to discuss the introduction of waiting restrictions which requires a Traffic Regulation Order. Tony Topping, Road Strategy, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 4 | Catherinefield Road becomes very busy when other roads are closed or congested. The narrower connecting road between Catherinefield Road and Herries Avenue (at School Wood) became very dangerous with potholes because of the additional traffic (road now resurfaced) This is evidence of the problem with limited access roads in and out of Heathhall to Dumfries. What can be done about this? Vehicles now use it as a rat run and speed down Herries Avenue. |
Road Hierarchy geometry and design are set out in Designing Street planning policy. Appropriate consideration, including road safety, will be applied to any planning application(s) applicable to the Herries Avenue/Catherinefield Road junction area. Kevin Morrison, Roads Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council The Community Policing team can carry out speed checks at the location and the area will be incorporated into our routine visibility patrols. Road Policing Teams are aware of the concerns at the location. Police Scotland continue to carry out local road policing related initiatives which include the anti-social use of vehicles, speeding campaigns and prevention work within the education environment for young and new drivers. We will work with colleagues at Dumfries and Galloway Council Roads Service to investigate evidential data for future action. PC Rebecca Mclung, Police Scotland |
| 5 | Is the stopping up of Catherinefield Road linked to this planning application only or does the council plan to do this anyway? Why cant the junction with the A701 be improved rather than stopping up? |
The idea of stopping-up of the C7 Catherinefield Road is linked to the proposed Catherinefield development. There would be no requirement for stopping-up if there was no proposed/planned development at Catherinefield Farm. The purpose of any proposed stopping-up of the C7 at this location would be to separate residential and commercial traffic and to avoid any potential increase in use of the substandard C7/A701 junction. Kevin Morrison, Roads Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 6 | If the road at the junction of Catherinefield road, at C7, is to be stopped up what will happen with emergency services getting access if there is an incident on A701. |
Whilst any final plans have yet to be determined, it would be intended to ensure there is Emergency Vehicle Access (such as the use of removable bollards) to ensure access in the event of an emergency if a development was to go ahead. The EVA would be designed to accommodate emergency vehicles but restrict commercial vehicles. Kevin Morrison, Roads Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 7 | How are you connecting the proposed development to walking and cycling routes like the Caledonian Cycleway, which is very popular? |
A Travel Plan will be required to be prepared for the development and may be a condition of any planning consent should this be granted. Supplementary Guidance on the preparation of Travel Plans is available from the council on request and will address the various issues associated with Active Travel etc. Kevin Morrison, Roads Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council The proposal is to have a primary active travel link from Catherinefield Farm linking into Curries Yard. This route takes you onto the A701 road where the new pedestrian crossing will be installed. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 8 | The traffic calming sensor on the A701 is broken and has not been working for a while. What can be done to slow down the traffic and stop speeding drivers from both directions. |
The A701 Trunk Road is the responsibility of Transport Scotland and its operating company Amey. This vehicle activated sign device was owned and operated by Transport Scotland/ Amey. It was removed some years ago. Tony Topping, Road Strategy, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 9 | What is the provision for improved public transport, especially school bus routes in a morning? This is already a problem with two buses being full from Heathhall every school morning and some pupils not being able to fit in. |
The D1 and D2 Bus services service the Heathhall area and are commercial services run by Stagecoach. Comments from the Event will be discussed with Stagecoach for consideration. Neither SWestrans nor DGC can contractually enforce improvements as these are not subsidised routes. Grant Coltart, SWestrans |
| 10 | Are we going to see roadworks on the A701 for years because of this proposed development, causing more disruption? |
The only planned closure on the A701 is part of the existing development at Curries Yard, for the installation of a pedestrian crossing. Any other infrastructure is already in place should Catherinefield Farm proposals go ahead. This is subject to responses that may come out of the planning process. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
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Community Safety |
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| You said | We will … or we can’t because… | |
| 11 | Is there any evidence that anti-social behaviour could become more of a problem in Heathhall? |
There is no evidence since the completion of the Curries Yard/Arrol Place housing of significant increases in anti social behaviour that causes Police Scotland any concern. As year groups form from across Dumfries at the various secondary schools, new peer groups form and this is cyclical in nature and tends to move low level anti-social behaviour around the various communities. There is no evidence of any increased incidents due to the creation of these new housing developments. Police Scotland would always encourage reporting of ASB to Police Scotland via 101 or anonymously via crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If it is an emergency dial 999. PC Rebecca Mclung, Police Scotland |
| 12 | The main anti-social behaviour at Herries Avenue comes from ‘Boy Racers’ driving too fast on the roads. What can be done to address this? |
The Community Policing team can carry out speed checks at the location and the area will be incorporated into our routine visibility patrols. Road Policing Teams are aware of the concerns at the location. Police Scotland continue to carry out local road policing related initiatives which include the anti-social use of vehicles, speeding campaigns and prevention work within the education environment for young and new drivers. We will work with colleagues at Dumfries and Galloway Council Roads Service to investigate evidential data for future action. PC Rebecca Mclung, Police Scotland |
Population, Education, Demographic and lack of infrastructure |
||
| You said | We will … or we can’t because… | |
| 13 |
What about our local schools? We know that Heathhall Primary is already full, what impact will the proposed and current housing have? And what about Dumfries High School. Is the new building able to cope with an increase in pupils in the catchment area? How do you predict what will happen with children coming in the new development? How many children will come? |
For academic year 25/26 there are approx. 38 spaces at Heathhall P.S with a further 79 at Locharbriggs P.S. The school roll at Heathhall P.S will be the lowest it has been since academic year 2016/17. We recognise that the housing development will bring additional children, the difficulty we have is understanding how old they are (if they are even born) and where they will ultimately go to school. Not all children at Curries Yard have chosen to attend Heathhall P.S. The new build Dumfries High School will be smaller than the current, we are bound by the funding allocation from the Scottish Government which is established on current pupil numbers and an uplift for pupil projections. New build schools are nearly always a draw but there will be a point in time when this settles, we have seen it across other schools. Priority will be given to catchment children. We have been liaising with Wheatley Homes on the proposals and will continue to do so particularly around any phasing and allocations if the development is agreed. Louise Rae, Education Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 14 | What type of housing is being planned in this proposed new development? |
Through discussions with Housing colleagues and following the community engagement process we heard the feedback from local people about the type of housing that is important. We have adapted our proposed housing mix, the current ratios are as follows:
Our planning application includes Homes for private sale, and we are exploring the opportunity to include Mid-Market rent following feedback received through community engagement. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 15 |
Are new residents being relocated from somewhere else? Are they coming from the displacement of residents at other developments? What percentage of these residents will be from Dumfries and Galloway? |
Wheatley Group have no current plans for further demolition in the area. All homes are allocated through a Choice Based Lettings system, which ensures that properties are let in a fair, transparent, and consistent way. Each applicant is assessed individually based on their housing need, and homes are offered to those in the greatest need, in line with our allocations policy. While we do not set quotas based on geography, many applicants are already living in Dumfries and Galloway or have applied from within the region. The system is designed to respond to housing need, regardless of where an applicant is currently living. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 16 | If we want to help local people, how can we accept that the allocation policy does not prioritise people from Dumfries and Galloway? That is a mixed message. |
We understand the importance of supporting local communities, and we are committed to doing so in a number of meaningful ways. While the Lettings and Allocation policy is based on housing need rather than geographic location, in practice, many of those who apply for homes in Dumfries and Galloway already live in the area or have strong ties to it. Naturally, those with a genuine need or demand for housing in Dumfries tend to be people who are already part of the local community. As an example, the number of properties allocated at the recent new affordable housing development in Springholm to people from within Dumfries and Galloway was 44 out of 47 homes. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 17 | I am concerned about the impact on local public sector organisations like the Council and the NHS. These services are already diminishing. How will the workers in these services cope with an increase in people in the area? |
As outlined at 16 - the number of properties allocated at the recent new affordable housing development in Springholm to people from within Dumfries and Galloway was 44 out of 47 homes. It is therefore anticipated that there will be a similar experience for any new developments in Dumfries and therefore people will already be utilising services within the area. In addition, the proposed provision of accessible homes for older residents would help to alleviate pressures on the NHS by enabling people to live independently at home for longer, rather than requiring residential placement or admission to hospital. Dumfries and Galloway Council work closely with colleagues in the health sector to ensure that specialist homes can be built to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable people. Jamie Little, Strategic Housing, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 18 | There is 1 GP in the area. It is already difficult to get an appointment with the doctor. How can we influence an improvement in provision? |
The shortage of GPs is being felt across Scotland, with many practices struggling to afford to recruit, and trainees struggling to find permanent or temporary jobs. However, Dumfries and Galloway Council do continue to support the local health sector with recruitment wherever possible. The NHS have been a major collaborator on work to identify key worker housing demand in the region, and we continue to work with the NHS to progress projects that provide homes for people looking to work in the area, including doctors. Current proposals for homes at Catherinefield include plans to build around 30 homes for private sale, and a similar number for private rent. These offer an opportunity to potentially provide accommodation for many of these key workers. Jamie Little, Strategic Housing, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 19 | People need things to do in their local area. What is being considered for things for people to do? |
Heathhall Community Council are currently developing a local place plan for the area. These include a section on the needs of your area following discussion with the local community. It should also set out what objectives the community wishes to achieve in light of the issues identified. Place plans are also supported by an action plan with a list of potential projects, timescales, and resources required. These should be directly related to any objectives identified by the community. Jamie Little, Strategic Housing, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 20 | Are plans for a 20 minute neighbourhood being considered? Are there plans for other amenities being considered, for example a shop? |
The potential for a shop being included in the proposed development was considered, however we received a mixed response following the community engagement process, due to concerns over sustainability with other local shops in the area. Our Commercial team explored the opportunity and received little interest. This has therefore been removed from the current plan. We have proposed a bus stop within the new proposed development. Our access and movement statement on the planning portal shows active travel links, both local schools are 15-minute walk from centre of the proposed site. Also see response to No.7. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South Many aspects of a 20 minute neighbourhood will be available to potential future residents of Heathhall which are already in place. This includes access to shops, primary schools, places of employment, health centres, pharmacies and public transport. Plans to improve active travel links will also make the area more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. Jamie Little, Strategic Housing, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| 21 | How will the proposal to build an additional 300 houses benefit people in the Heathhall community? |
We hope to see an increase in jobs for local people and appropriate housing that will attract people to stay in the area as they can see a future in Dumfries and Galloway. The delivery of 300 new homes can reasonably be expected to enable investment in excess of £75milion into the region. Previous affordable housing developments have seen a significant number of local SMEs carrying out work such as electrical installations, decorating, cleaning and civils. A project of this scale would also be on the ground for around 5 years, allowing apprentices to serve their time on one site. Wheatley Homes South aim to ensure that the procurement of construction partners also delivers significant community benefits. Jamie Little, Strategic Housing, Dumfries and Galloway Council We hope to deliver lots of benefits for local people as part of this proposed development. As an example, we can share below the community benefits delivered via our development at Curries Yard.
Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 22 | What percentage of local contractors will build this proposed housing? |
It’s not possible to advise of this at this time during the planning stages. New build contractors on Wheatley’s Procurement Framework have committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in addition to this they have committed to deliver Community Benefits. See response to No. 21 which gives example of what was achieved at our Curries Yard development. Nadine Paterson, Wheatley Homes South |
| 23 | Is the current water supply and water pressure limitations in Heathhall going to be further compromised by the building of these new houses? |
That will be assessed as part of the development process and Scottish Water will guarantee 10 bar of pressure for new housing, which should not impact on the existing housing. If it doesn’t meet the guidelines then Scottish Water will need to consider installing new water mains infrastructure to meet the guidelines. Local Elected Members will raise the current issue around reports of low pressure with Scottish Water. Councillor Linda Dorward, Elected Member, Dumfries and Galloway Council |
Evaluation
17 citizens returned evaluation forms.
| The purpose of the Ward Event was to provide the opportunity for the local community to discuss concerns around the housing development(s) in Heathhall with local Councillors, Officers and Partner Agencies. Was this achieved? |
94% agreed or strongly agreed 1 respondent indicated no |
We asked how strongly they agreed with the following statements:
| The purpose of the meeting was meaningful to me |
88% agreed or strongly agreed 2 respondents indicated Not Sure |
| The day and time was convenient |
88% agreed or strongly agreed 2 respondents indicated Not Sure |
| The venue was suitable and in a good location |
88% agreed or strongly agreed 2 respondents indicated Not Sure |
| Staff were helpful |
88% agreed or strongly agreed 1 respondent indicated Not Sure 1 respondent indicated Disagree |
| The information provided was easy to understand |
53% agreed or strongly agreed 6 respondents indicated Not Sure 1 respondent indicated Disagree 1 respondent indicated Strongly Disagree |
| I felt that I was fully involved in the discussion |
71% agreed or strongly agreed 4 respondents indicated Not Sure 1 respondent indicated Disagree |
| My views were listened to |
65% agreed or strongly agreed 6 respondents indicated Not Sure |
| I know how to find out what happens next |
65% agreed or strongly agreed 5 respondents indicated Not Sure 1 respondent indicated Disagree |
| This was a good way to connect with my local Councillors |
82% agreed or strongly agreed 3 respondents indicated Not Sure |
| My attendance was worthwhile |
76% agreed or strongly agreed 4 respondents indicated Not Sure |
Comments
- the community found the lack of visual information during the event made it difficult to follow and understand the discussion
- there were concerns about poor audibility, with several attendees noting that speakers mumbled or spoke too quickly
- some attendees felt the event format was unclear, with at least one person leaving early believing it was a drop-in session
- the community raised issues about existing infrastructure, particularly overcrowded and narrow roads such as the A701, C7, and Martinton Road
- concerns were expressed about speeding on the A701, especially near the junction with Catherinefield Road, where a speed sensor has reportedly been disconnected for years
- attendees noted the absence of “social infrastructure” such as shops and cafés to support new housing developments
- while some felt their views were only partly listened to, others appreciated the strong turnout and the opportunity to raise issues
- there was a perception among some that the development is predetermined and community input may not influence the outcome