Outrage over locked playpark and plan to destroy 41 trees near Glasgow

Glasgow Times

04-06-2025

Those living in Barrhead's Littleton Park say they have been left in limbo for over a year due to hold ups in the completion and adoption of their estate which has kept children's play parks and green spaces fenced off and inaccessible.
It is understood the estate, which was officially named Weavers Lea by the developer, was supposed to be completed by Avant Homes and adopted by East Renfrewshire Council a year ago.
The Littleton Park estate (Image: Sourced) Homeowners, however, say they have now been told this will not happen until the construction of 39 properties by Briar Homes is completed adjacent to the site, on the former site of Lyoncross Farm, leaving families stuck in 'an unsafe, incomplete environment'.
Briar homes was due to start construction work in mid-June, but have submitted a change with council planners to enhance access/parking bays/paths, and to remove even more trees than originally planned.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said: 'The play park was supposed to be open last year yet the kids still can't use it because it's fenced off.
'They have nowhere else to play as we are surrounded by construction and fencing. It's really unfair on them.
'The council and developers continue to avoid answering questions about the adoption delay of the estate's roads and infrastructure.
'Residents are calling for an immediate pause on further development until a new, independent environmental and arboriculture assessment is completed, and until the promised masterplan infrastructure including safe pedestrian routes and green spaces is delivered.'
Aurs Road construction traffic (Image: Sourced) The construction traffic from the Briar Homes site will also pass directly through residential streets in Littleton Park and go right past the children's play area.
'Briar Homes has not secured the necessary permissions or legal rights to use these private estate roads for heavy vehicles,' added the resident.
'On leaving our estate, Aurs Road is a single-lane bottleneck controlled by temporary traffic lights – there's no room for further construction traffic.
'Residents fear for the safety of the children and the families, yet their request to delay construction until the delayed Aurs Road project is finished has been rejected by the council.'
The trees are part of the local skyline (Image: Sourced) Briar Homes are now proposing to remove 41 trees which residents say are 'mature and ecologically viable' in Dams to Darnley Country Park.
This it is claimed includes endangered species of Ash and Elm and is being done based on 'outdated tree surveys from 2021'.
The trees can be seen in the distance from Barrhead train station (Image: Sourced) It is understood by residents that a huge sycamore on the new Briar Homes site will be lost to make way for a "single parking bay".
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This has been described as a 'nature crime' by another resident who is also worried that the loss of trees will destroy bat and bird habitats.
The trees at Lyoncross Mound (Image: Sourced) Concerns have also been raised about the listed 18th-century Lyoncross Farmhouse, an important architectural feature of the area, which is said to 'remain neglected without any conservation plan, while the proposed housing obscures its visibility and context'.
Lyoncross Farmhouse (Image: Sourced)
'Residents have been left out of key decisions - no neighbour notifications, no updated consultations, and no clear communication on why these projects are being pushed through despite public and environmental objections,' added the first resident.
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A spokesperson from Briar Homes, said: 'Following the purchase of the land in May 2025, and in keeping with demand, our mission is to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes in Barrhead.
'We support the wider regeneration of Barrhead including contributions towards affordable housing and an extensive landscaping and tree provision strategy.
'We have been consulting and collaborating with East Renfrewshire Council on all aspects of development.
'We continue to engage with local residents and our construction approach aims to prioritise the health and safety of both workers and the community while minimising disruption to residents.'
An Avant Homes spokesperson said: 'Our development in Barrhead was fully completed last June and the roads on the development are all final surfaced.
'Following a joint inspection visit with officers of ERC's roads department in May 2025, a list of minor remedial works has been agreed and our contractor is scheduling these to be done. We anticipate these works will be completed by the beginning of September.
'The play park is fully installed and is, at present, purposely fenced off to allow the grass and planting to become established before it is opened to the public. The local council is aware of the approach we are taking.
'A full inspection and health and safety approval from our play park designer is also required before it can be opened and we are arranging for this to take place in line with the fencing removal. We anticipate that the play park will open by the end of June.'
Regarding the Briar Homes development, the Avant Homes spokesperson added: 'Briar Homes is an entirely separate housebuilder to Avant Homes which is developing land adjacent to our site in Barrhead.
'As part of the planning consent granted to Briar Homes by the local authority, construction traffic for their development will pass through a limited part of our site.
'Once the construction traffic is no longer required by Briar Homes, the local authority will be in a position to adopt the roads on our development.'
East Renfrewshire Council has been contacted for comment.
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