Six objections to chalet plan
Concerns about loss of woodland
Critics of plans to build holiday chalets at a country estate near Bannockburn have raised concerns about ancient woodland at the site.
Spectrum Properties Scotland wishes to build 12 holiday chalets and infrastructure 190 metres north of Barns Knowe in the grounds of Sauchieburn House/Estate.
Stirling Council planners are recommending conditional approval of the application subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a legal mechanism for the payment of a road bond to secure the repair of the private road within the control of the application.
The council’s planning panel agreed last week to a request from Carron Valley Community Council and Councillor Christine Simpson to hold a hearing and site visit before deciding whether or not to grant the bid.
The site of almost 2.3 hectares is within the grounds of the estate, between one and two miles south west of Chartershall and the Battle of Bannnockburn Visitor Centre.
Six objections/comments have been submitted raising concerns including inappropriate location and adverse impact on the natural environment.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust says the site is classed as an ancient woodland, semi-ancient woodland/ or plantation on ancient woodland site and the woods are likely to be of high value in relation to the nature and landscape.
Woodland Trust Scotland say they have concerns about the loss of ancient woodland due to the length of time it has existed there and the vital links between plants, animals and soil and the woodland is of great ecological value.
Council planners said, however: “The approach road to the site would be the road past the properties known as Woodside, Ardsonas and the Lodge from the north east.
“The application site is within an area where previous tree planting has largely been cleared, with the exception of a few mature trees. The siting of the proposed chalets does not require any tree removal. The planning permission must assess the site in its current condition and could not consider tree removal that was carried out around five years ago. The proposal will enhance the site through high quality chalet design and new tree planting.
“The proposed chalets would be situated against a backdrop of trees and within a woodland setting. The site is in a location where the established landscape setting could visually absorb the proposed 12 chalets, road and parking without it being visually prominent within the natural environment.”
A planning application for five holiday chalets submitted in 2013 was withdrawn, and in 2015 planning permission for two holiday chalets was refused on the grounds of adverse landscape impact.
However, planners said: “This current planning application considers all the documents submitted, which include the case that the landscape impact is acceptable, and is a complete reassessment of the merits of this fresh application.”