Village hotel looks set to become flats
Objectors unhappy over loss of premises
The future of one of Killearn’s oldest and most prominent buildings will be in the spotlight this morning (Friday).
Developers Apsis Solutions want to turn the Killearn Hotel into 14 flats with amenity space and private parking.
The late 18th-century building, at the The Square in the village, was formerly the Black Bull Hotel.
The hotel, owned by Punch Taverns, ceased trading in January 2016 following an unsettled period when a succession of licensees failed to make the hotel profitable.
Since then the building has been closed and its condition is said to be deteriorating.
This morning Stirling Council’s planning panel are due to consider the bid - however, it is expected they will defer a decision at the request of local councillor Graham Lambie who wants members to make a site visit and hold a hearing before making their determination.
Council planners are in agreement but are also recommending that following the visit and hearing conditional approval of the Apsis planning application should be granted subject to a legal agreement securing financial contributions for affordable housing and play/open space.
Developers say the currently disused Black Bull Hotel, most recently known as the Killearn Hotel, is no longer commercially viable and should be turned into flats after a succession of leaseholders failed to turn a profit.
However, 36 objections have been submitted to the application, and Councillor Lambie says he wants the community to be given more time to fully investigate all possible development opportunities on what is a key site in the village.
Killearn Community Council has also objected to the change of use, saying: “Conversion from a hotel would permanently cause removal of an existing facility and materially change the character within this part of the Conservation Area. The removal of such a facility would be in conflict with the sustainable development criteria of the council which seeks to promote tourism and related developments.
“Before this, the community council is not convinced that all steps have been taken to preserve the facility by appropriate marketing on an outright ownership basis as well as a leased basis and is of the view that it is primarily the present model that has not worked over several tenancies.”
Objectors to the planning application say while the building has been vacant for a number of years there is a lack of information in the application to demonstrate that all efforts have been made to preserve its last use and restore its “community and employment function”.
They say the building’s permanent loss as a hotel could potentially reduce tourism to Killearn and the area adversely impacting upon the community and the rural economy. They feel the hotel should be sold to an independent hotelier who could run it as a successful business opportunity and ongoing community facility.
Council planners say, however: “The applicants have submitted a viability study demonstrating the problems they have encountered running the premises as a pub/ hotel. They are not required through planning policy to market this building to the community, therefore the proposals have to be considered on their own merits.
“It is not considered that the loss of this hotel, which has already been closed for a number of years, will result in Killearn becoming a dormitory village.”