VILLAGE residents are pleading with councillors to intervene in the case of an eyesore building job which has been sitting unfinished on a plot for more than three years.

The property, believed to be a self-build, remains under construction on Gannel Hill View, Devon Village, but nearby residents are frustrated by a lack of progress.

The owner of the site previously was given the green light to house a caravan on the plot – on a temporary basis – to facilitate a “swift” project.

However, and despite permission being extended on a number of occasions, the house remains far from complete.

An application to once again renew temporary permission to site the caravan will go before Clackmannanshire Council’s Planning Committee tomorrow, Thursday April 26.

Objections flooded in, with 10 neighbours arguing the state of the site is having a detrimental impact on the attractiveness of the estate in general, and council papers also advising elected members to draw the line.

Documents, to be presented at the chamber in Kilncraigs, outlined: “The principal justification for previous approvals of the caravan on the site has been to facilitate swift completion of the approved house, however, for whatever reason or reasons, this outcome has not been achieved.

“It would be unreasonable for the council to continually renew this permission for as long as the house remains incomplete.”

The papers added: “At this stage, it has to be concluded that the siting and occupation of the caravan on the site has not proved conducive to enabling completion of the house build.”

Neighbours argue that since the developments around the caravan have all been completed in the past three-and-a-half years, it is now having a detrimental impact on the amenity of surrounding properties.

In their objection, one neighbour said: “Construction has been intermittent to say the least over the past nine years from when the applicant has purchased the plot.

“Construction has now come to a complete standstill and there has been no work carried out by the applicant for seven months.”

Parking is also an issue that was highlighted.

While, according to council papers, evidence had been presented that a parking space was formed on the site, as per the permission, it is not being used and there is no requirement through planning control to do so.

However, the documents added: “The parking space still appears to be enclosed by Heras fencing and not available for use as required by the planning conditions and this represents a breach of the conditions, which may be subject of enforcement action, depending on the planning committee’s decision.”

Another resident went on to accuse the applicant of “using the guise of building a property to continue to reside in the caravan/accommodation unit on a permanent basis”.

If refused by councillors, as recommended by officers, the occupants will likely to have about three months to voluntarily vacate and remove the caravan before any enforcement action takes effect.