Investigations established that the damage at Millburn Park was caused as a result of work undertaken by Avant Homes Scotland in connection with its adjacent residential new-build development.

The council, which owns the park, said the surface has been significantly disrupted and underground drainage pipes and five new manhole covers have been installed by Avant across the park.

Those manhole covers are currently protruding above ground level and are impacting the public’s ability to safely use the park and affecting the council’s ability to maintain it.

Avant Homes has acknowledged its error and council officers have engaged with the housebuilder with a view to rectifying and regulating matters as soon as possible.

Officers from Property Services and NETs Land and Countryside Services have provisionally agreed a reinstatement plan with Avant that would see it reinstate Millburn Park to its original condition. The main provisions of the plan can be summarised as follows:

• An area will be fenced off for the duration of the remediation to allow the new grass seed to take and minimise impact on the land during the growing period. This area will be fenced off for a period of approximately two months.
• The five protruding manhole covers will be lowered below ground to return the park to a level surface, with a combination of a membrane and flush turf finish
• All disturbed land will be fixed by way of hydroseeding and turfing to ensure a grass surface in keeping with the surrounding area.

Avant Homes has confirmed that remediation works would commence on site as a priority should the Council Executive approve plans next week. The firm has also confirmed that a 15-month defects liability period would be provided by it to ensure the reinstatement works are successful.