Renfrewshire Council has urged the Scottish Government to uphold its rejection of plans linked to former Rangers player Ally McCoist for 33 new homes in Bridge of Weir.
The former Scotland striker and his business partner Jeffrey East are directors of James (Glasgow) Ltd, which wants to develop a vacant site on the western boundary of 24 Thriplee Road.
Plans would see 10 houses and 23 flats built on the site, including four detached homes, six semi-detached houses and three blocks containing the apartments.
The development was recommended for approval by council planning officials but rejected by councillors in May following significant opposition in the village.
A total of 395 objections were submitted against the proposals, compared with 63 letters of support.
Councillors concluded the development would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area, including concerns about the scale and massing of the proposed apartment blocks and their relationship with the nearby Ranfurly Conservation Area.
McCoist and East have since taken the case to the Scottish Government, submitting a 205-page appeal in an attempt to overturn the council’s decision.
Renfrewshire Council has now responded to the appeal and called on a government reporter to dismiss it.
The council said: “The delivery of 33 homes and the national housing emergency are material considerations which were before the board.
“The council considers that these considerations do not outweigh the identified adverse effects of the detailed proposal.
“The council considers that the three flatted blocks do not respond sufficiently to the immediate lower-scale context around Thriplee and Carruth Road, particularly when their massing is considered together with the site’s elevation and changing levels.”
The council said its position was based on planning judgement rather than simply the number of objections received.
It added: “The council does not rely on roads, the numerical volume of objections, a general objection to flats, a proposition that Conservation Area status prevents development or any new technical reason introduced for the appeal.
“The principal dispute is one of planning judgement on the evidence before the board, rather than an absence of evidence.”
The authority has asked the Scottish Government reporter to dismiss the appeal and refuse planning permission. The development has been revised during a lengthy planning process.
Earlier proposals contained up to 38 properties before the scheme was reduced to 33 homes. The current layout works out at just over 5.5 homes per acre.
Ecological surveys carried out between May and October 2025 also recorded at least seven species of bat using the site.
James (Glasgow) Ltd argues that the council’s refusal cannot be supported by the planning evidence.
Its appeal points out that professional planning officers had recommended the development for approval and argues that the reason for refusal was not supported by objections from statutory consultees or contrary technical assessments.
The developer said: “It is respectfully submitted that the decision to refuse the planning application is unjustifiable and cannot be supported by the planning evidence or the applicable provisions of the development plan.”
The appeal also includes a claim for expenses incurred during the planning process.
The Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division confirms that the council’s response has been received and the case is ready to be allocated to a reporter.
The appeal will be determined through written submissions rather than a public hearing. The Scottish Government currently lists a target decision date of 3 November.