Council to buy land near reservoir as drainage site for new £18m train station

East Renfrewshire Council is planning to buy land near Balgray reservoir to support the creation of a new £18.3m rail station.

Councillors are being asked to approve a deal for Scottish Water land, which will allow Network Rail to use the site for drainage.

A council report states access to the sustainable urban drainage (SUD) system is “necessary to facilitate the operation of Balgray Railway Station”.

The deal – for 2,678 square metres of land – is expected to be completed at the market value of £7,000 plus Scottish Water’s “reasonable professional fees”, which are estimated at £2,000. The new station is set to open in autumn this year.

It is being built on the Neilston line, near Balgray reservoir, and will have two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, waiting shelters and cycle storage. There will also be an 80-space car park.

An upgrade of Balgraystone Road included providing an access spur to new homes and Balgray Station. The road, which has been adopted by the council, drains to the SUD next to Scottish Water’s Balgray reservoir.

The land is mostly covered in long grass with a sunken pond.

Scottish Water granted a licence to occupy to the council in January 2020 for an initial two years. That has been extended year to year at an annual rent of £1.

Officials report: “Balgray Station and the car park are under construction and will drain to the SUD created as part of constructing Balgraystone Road.

“Terms have been agreed with Scottish Water for the Council to acquire the land upon which the SUD is constructed to allow its use by Network Rail.”

They add: “Scottish Water has agreed to transfer the land with its servitudes subject to the council maintaining the feature and ensuring that the water quality run-off into the reservoir complies with SEPA water quality standards.

“The standards require the run-off water to be free of any pollution and fuel run-off. The design of the drainage for the station will achieve this quality through the introduction of a fuel interceptor system.”

The council also plans to fence the perimeter of the SUD. Costs will be covered by the Balgray Station project budget, which is funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a £1.1bn infrastructure programme.

Councillors will consider the deal at a full council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22).