‘Treehouse will spoil special cottage setting’
Robert Louis Stevenson visited the house as a child
Neighbours are angry over plans for a treehouse in the grounds of one of the oldest houses in Bridge of Allan with links to a celebrated Scottish writer.
Applicant Dean Hartley has submitted the proposal for a treehouse made of softwood timber in the back garden of historic Minewood Cottage which has associations with Robert Louis Stevenson.
The author of classics Treasure Island and Kidnapped stayed at the cottage in Abercromby Road during childhood visits to the spa town in the 1860s.
The treehouse’s designers have described the structure – covering an area of 37sq feet, with deck heights of 3ft to 10ft, and a peak roof height of 20ft – as having a ‘rustic woodland feel.’
But Elizabeth Huntly who lives next door to Minewood Cottage, which lies within the conservation area, made reference to ‘giraffe-like legs’ or ‘a sputnik from outer space’ in her submission to planners.
She added: “With the greatest of respect, a structure of this style and magnitude is totally inappropriate. Minewood Cottage is a beautiful property in a beautiful setting of great historical and social importance.
“To allow such a planning application would impact negatively on the house and on the village of Bridge of Allan.”
Another next-door neighbour Ewan Wallace pointed out that the treehouse ‘with a raised platform on an already elevated site’ had the potential to result in ‘a significant loss of privacy and ‘associated detrimental impact on reasonable enjoyment of both [my] house and garden’.
Mr Wallace also said he wanted more specific information on measures ‘to address the major visual impact which such a sizeable structure is likely to create within a natural setting.’
Minewood Cottage had been put on the market by owner Aidan O’Carroll in 2015 at offers over £975,000.
A design and access statement by Blue Forest Bespoke Luxury Tree Houses submitted with the planning application states their brief was to design ‘a small and unique tree house for recreational use by the resident of Minewood Cottage’ and to create ‘an unimposing structure that will be in keeping with the appearance and nature of the property and garden’.
The statement goes on: ‘The tree house has been designed to fit discreetly and naturally into the curtilage of Minewood Cottage.
‘The structure is located away from the boundaries of the property and is naturally screened by trees and shrubs.
‘It is relatively small and will not be imposing in relation to the rest of the property.
‘The tree house will provide a cosy and comfortable space for the family to hideaway and enjoy the garden. It is sited within a part of their property that they currently enjoy for recreational use.’
The closing date for consultation on the plans has passed and the deadline for the determination of the application is January 23.
The Observer asked Mr Hartley for comment, but he did not respond before our deadline.