Cowie could be site for 500 properties

Proposals for around 700 new houses earmarked for the Stirling area - 500 of them in Cowie - could be decided tomorrow (Thursday).

Stirling Council’s planning panel are to consider a number of housing applications, which if approved could see a raft of major development.

Taylor Wimpey are seeking permission in principle for 433 houses on a site on the western edge of Cowie.

However, local councillor Alasdair MacPherson has asked that the panel to hold a hearing and council planners are recommending refusal of the application.

They say while use of the land for housing is acceptable, the developers have not incorporated the required 25 per cent affordable housing element and are not making a fair contribution towards the local infrastucture, particularly

for transport and education.

Five objections have been submitted on grounds including loss of open space, increase in anticipated units and impact on infrastructure.

Omnivale Ltd, meanwhile, are seeking permission in principle for 67 houses off Main Street, also on the Western edge of Cowie, on a site near the Taylor Wimpey proposal.

The proposal also includes employment land and a nature park.

Planning officials are again recommending refusal of that application saying it will not provide a reasonable contribution for school capacity, with education officials estimating such a combined level of new development could generate around an extra 150 pupils.

They planners say both applications together would constitute 500 residential units - 120 more than the number allocated in the Local Development Plan.

In a report on the Taylor Wimpey proposal due before tomorrow’s meeting of the panel, the officials said: “The difficulties arise from the extent of contributions required by the council and those that are being offered by the developer. Combined with the adjacent site, this development would result in an overall development of 500 units on a site allocated in the LDP for 380 units.

“The applicant has stated the site would not be viable if the full range of contributions was required. Instead of an education contribution of £2,584,327, the developer proposes a contribution of £650,000. In terms of affordable housing the developer offers 19 per cent instead of 25 per cent.

“Obviously the contributions are higher as a result of an increase in unit numbers on the site compared to the allocation. The independent assessor agreed the education contribution sought could not be supported through this development but considered that the developer could give further consideration to providing the 25 per cent affordable housing.”

Planners are recommending approval of a detailed 185-house proposal by Ogilvie Homes Ltd at a greenfield site next to Newpark Farmhouse off Coxithill Road, St Ninians, subject to conditions and a legal agreement securing contributions for education, waste and transport as well as affordable housing. It would include a mix of housing including bungalows, cottages, terraced, semidetached and detached.

Of the total units, 139 would be for private sale and 46 for affordable housing. Four letters of representation were submitted citing concerns including traffic and road safety.

Borestone Community Council has raised concerns about school capacity, describing the parking at Borestone Primary School as already “manic”.

Also before the panel will be an application by Gladman Developments for the Barbush site in Dunblane, which is being recommended for approval subject to a Section 75 legal agreement.

The developers want permission in principle for housing on the site, with an initial indication of 80 units. Permission has previously been granted for business use, a petrol station and a store on the plot.