‘Housing plan would damage battle site’
Heritage bodies object to the 250-home application
Two of Scotland’s top heritage bodies say a proposed housing development of up to 250 homes would have a “major impact” on the Battle of Bannockburn site.
The National Trust for Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland have both objected to the outline application submitted to Stirling Council by developers Hallam Land Management for land between Bannockburn Burn at New Line Road and west of Glasgow Road.
The developers claim the plans will not have a significant adverse impact on the historic environment and will even expand the existing Bannockburn Heritage Trail by introducing a new footpath network and interpretation boards, linking in with Borestone Heritage Trail.
They have also pledged to carry out extensive archaeological investigations to further help with understanding the 1314 battle.
However, NTS and HES have raised concerns.
NTS, which operates the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre in Whins of Milton, said: “The proposal will have a major damaging impact on the battlefield setting. This represents a further encroachment on the heritage site which has slowly been developed over the past 50 years.
“The proposed development site has seen no development since the battle. Outwith agricultural changes - drainage, crop rotation - it remains as it may have been in 1314.
“As well as changing the view from where Bruce and the Scots camped, the development is only metres upstream from ‘the ford’, one of the major crossing points that the English Vanguard crossed on day one of the battle. This area could easily be the area where the historic encounter between Bruce and De Bohun had taken place and saw the retreat of the Vanguard.”
The trust also say the development will exacerbate traffic issues, particularly at peak times, adding that traffic accessing the visitor centre from Glasgow Road often has to queue.
Historic Environment Scotland meanwhile say the proposals would have a “significant adverse impact” both on the setting of the A-listed Bannockburn Rotunda and on the key landscape characteristics and special qualities of the site of the Battle of Bannockburn.
They added: “The relationship between Monument Hill and the Bannock Burn is a key landscape characteristic vital to understanding the unfolding events of the first day of battle.
“The introduction of 200 houses into the landscape would obscure the contours and lessen our ability to understand the troop movement and action. In addition, the proposed development would divorce Monument Hill from the Bannock Burn as well as urbanising what is at present open countryside. It cannot be accommodated without damaging this key landscape characteristic.
“The applicant’s landscape assessment focuses on the impact of key views from Monument Hill to Croftside Farm and Cat Craig, but fails to sufficiently address the separation of Monument Hill from the Bannock Burn and the subsequent impact this would have. The proposed mitigation of screening with tree planting along with edge of the development would not lessen this impact.”
Stirling Council had previously raised concerns about the impact on views when responding to Hallam’s Local Development Plan submissions.
However the applicants, who engaged archaeological consultants, believe these concerns can be overcome and they can provide “clear evidence” a residential development could be viewed alongside existing and allocated developments along Glasgow Road and would not interfere with views.
In a supporting statement, Hallam said: “The council has allocated parts of the battlefield site for development within the proposed LDP meaning the battlefield site is not in itself a barrier to development.”
Council planners will make a recommendation on the application in due course. It is likely to be decided at planning panel level, however if approved will still have to be considered by Scottish Ministers.
200 houses on the landscape would obscure the contours