Claish Farm homes plan adds partner

Lovell to design and build at site

Hopes of creating 50 new social rented homes near Callander have moved a step closer.

Partnership housing provider Lovell has been chosen as Rural Stirling Housing Association’s preferred partner to design and build the homes on land at Claish Farm.

The proposed development will consist of one, two, and three bedroom homes for social rent on the site, located to the east of the A81, south of Callander and within the boundary of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Lovell is now working with RSHA as well as with the National Park Planning Authority, SEPA, Scottish Water, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Transport Scotland on final plans for the £5 million development.

The site at Claish Farm is the largest area highlighted for development within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority’s Local Development Plan, with potential for developments such as a hotel and a riverside walkway.

Tony Teasdale, chief executive officer at Rural Stirling Housing Association, said: “RSHA is very pleased to be working with Lovell on this exciting development.

“There is considerable demand for affordable housing in the area and I hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”

National Park Authority planners say negotiations have been taking place with partners and the landowner at Claish Farm for the wider development of the land.

In documents due before the authority’s planning committee on Monday, they add: “Callander is the largest town in the Park and forms its eastern gateway. The majority of growth opportunity is to the south at Claish Farm which is allocated for a mix of uses including visitor experience and housing.”

Stephen Profili, regional managing director for Lovell in Scotland said: “We are very pleased to be chosen as RSHA’s preferred partner and are now working with our design team to complete stage two of the procurement process.

“The development will be key to unlocking the larger growth plans for Callander.”

More than 70 potential opportunities across the national park area were identified in the ‘LIVE Park’ document - including around 120 new homes for the Trossachs ‘gateway’ town.

“It was formally adopted several months ago by the National Park Authority as its Local Development Plan, the legal document to determine all planning decisions in the National Park.”

As the largest town in the national park, proposals for future development in Callander were said to be “key” to the Local Development Plan.