I might try to take a few photographs in this area to document it over the next few weeks because, after over twenty years of wrangling, Cala Homes finally have planning permission to turn this farmland into a “residential-led. Mixed-use development”.

The first houses are not expected until late 2025, with infrastructural work being done beforehand.

It’s hard for me to be sure what my response is – I know that we need more homes and this is surely a great location – within easy walking distance of the Glasgow-Edinburgh train line, and just off the M9. Yet there is a certain sadness that this land will become a semi-built-up area, even though there are promises of a “major central park and attractive wetland area”.

But overall, we need more houses. We need to get prices back to somewhere that will allow people to buy new homes, and the houses have to be built somewhere.

Let’s hope that Cala’s development is as good as it sounds.