Scottish Campaign Urges Minor Housing Plan Changes to Safeguard Ancient Woodland

A community group in Paisley, Scotland, has proposed a small redesign of the Abercrombie Park housing development to protect veteran trees and ancient woodland habitat, while allowing the majority of homes to be built.

The campaigners behind Protect Hollybush suggest that altering approximately three per cent of the approved development could preserve part of Hollybush Woodland, an area containing around 20 veteran trees, including 12 listed on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory, alongside ancient riparian woodland that has evolved naturally over centuries.

Rather than opposing the housing project outright, the group aims to demonstrate that environmental conservation and housing delivery can coexist. They argue that this approach could serve as a model for balancing development with habitat protection across the UK.

Veteran trees and ancient woodlands are recognised as irreplaceable habitats supporting diverse species of birds, mammals, insects, fungi, and more. Their complex ecological networks and soil systems have developed over hundreds of years and cannot be replicated simply by planting new trees elsewhere.

Construction has already started on parts of the former Dykebar Hospital site, but work within Hollybush Woodland is scheduled to begin only after the bird breeding season ends in autumn. Campaigners view this as a last chance for meaningful dialogue before the woodland is impacted.

A spokesperson for Protect Hollybush said: “Across Britain we’re often told that communities have to choose between building the homes people need and protecting the natural places they value. We don’t believe those are the only two options.

“We’re not asking for this development to be abandoned or planning permission to be overturned. We’re asking whether a relatively modest amendment to the approved plans could protect part of an irreplaceable woodland while still allowing almost all of the homes to be built.

“If a practical compromise can be found here, it could provide an example for developments across the UK where communities and developers are trying to balance the need for new homes with the protection of important habitats.”

The campaign has invited the consortium responsible for Abercrombie Park—CALA Homes, Barratt Homes, and Bellway Homes—to meet with independent ecological advisers to explore design adjustments that could reduce environmental harm while preserving most of the development.

Independent ecologist Liz Parsons of Starling Learning emphasised the importance of ancient woodland and veteran trees: “Ancient woodland is one of Britain’s rarest and most valuable habitats because it has developed over hundreds of years. Once it is lost, it cannot simply be recreated.

“Veteran trees are equally important because they support complex ecosystems that younger trees cannot replace.

“Where opportunities exist to reduce environmental harm while still allowing development to proceed, those opportunities deserve careful consideration. As housing demand continues to grow, finding practical ways of protecting irreplaceable habitats will become increasingly important.”

Planning Democracy, an organisation promoting transparency and public involvement in Scotland’s planning system, has also encouraged the consortium to engage in discussions about the proposal. Clare Symonds, Director of Planning Democracy, stated: “Communities and developers are often presented as being on opposing sides, but good planning should always leave room for constructive discussion where better outcomes may still be achievable.

“If relatively modest design changes could protect irreplaceable natural heritage while allowing almost all of a development to proceed, those possibilities should be explored.”

Protect Hollybush believes the proposal offers the consortium an opportunity to demonstrate their publicly stated commitments to sustainability, biodiversity, and community engagement. The developers’ sustainability strategies include ambitions to enhance biodiversity, foster thriving communities, and deliver environmentally responsible projects.

The campaign highlights the growing relevance of this issue as governments aim to accelerate housebuilding while halting biodiversity loss and preserving ancient woodland fragments across the UK.

A spokesperson for Protect Hollybush added: “This isn’t about communities versus developers.

“Everyone recognises that new homes are needed. Equally, once ancient woodland is lost it cannot be replaced within our lifetime.

“Our proposal asks a simple question. If changing around three per cent of the development could protect centuries of natural heritage while still delivering approximately 97 per cent of the homes, isn’t that a conversation worth having?

“There is still time for everyone to sit around the table before work reaches the woodland later this year. We hope the consortium will take that opportunity.”