Garden development

A total of 26 trees are to be felled in the grounds of a 1960s style ‘suburban’ bungalow near Balfron to make way for two new homes.

Applicant Mr J Batey has been granted planning permission to demolish Glenshee Cottage, Boquhan, and build two detached twostorey houses by Stirling Council.

The bungalow is described as ‘tired’ and ‘entirely out of keeping with the character of the village and its rural Arcadian setting’ in a design statement submitted with the planning application.

And a tree survey, which assessed 71 trees at the site, points out that 26 of them need to be removed to accommodate the plans. They include goat willow, common ash, Norway spruce, common elder and plum and apple trees as well as shrubs and Leyland Cypress.

The survey adds: ‘Of the 26 trees, nine are recommended for removal irrespective of development leaving a loss of 15 low quality trees and two moderate quality trees’.

Murray Russell Architects, in their design statement pointed out: “We have designed both houses in a traditional form of one and a half storeys and in the grain of existing houses of the village unlike the existing bungalow which was a 1960s ‘catalogue’ house positioned without consideration of the site, orientation or views.

“We have been careful to design bespoke houses to ensure that public rooms face to the southwest.

“There is no overlooking of neighbours.

“The smaller but sizeable gardens will be more manageable than the existing enormous garden which has been a maintenance problem. Both front gardens will remain as natural woodland while the smaller open rear gardens will be easier to maintain. While we envisage there will be patio and terraces close to the houses we believe that much of the gardens will be natural in character.”’

Designed bespoke houses