The Long Preparation Process
The Oatlands development partners encountered many difficulties in paving the way for a site start. Sorting out the problems caused some delays but was essential to ensure that the ground is entirely safe for building. Some of the development complexities which have had to be resolved include:
- Acquisition of property with regard to which the City Council and GHA allocated over £6,000,000 (all other costs, in general terms, are being be met by the developers)
- Promotion of two compulsory purchase orders for commercial property, ex-Council houses, and land without recorded ownership
- Detailed negotiations with local tenants to ensure allocation of suitable new houses on site
- Negotiations to satisfactorily relocate owner-occupiers, latterly on-site with the aid of "Homestake" grants
- Formulation of proposals to combat flood risk, involving the recontouring of much of the site
- The need for up to £4 million worth of renewal of underground services
- Upgrading of local sewer capacity to satisfy the wishes of Scottish Water
- Revision of the proposals to allow for earlier completion of the new road system to tie in with the opening of the M74 Completion
- Liaison with the Health & Safety Executive to ensure that relevant safety regulations and restrictions are recognised
- Considerable ground investigation to determine suitability for building and to allow proposals for putting matters right to the satisfaction of the Council and all the appropriate environmental agencies.
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