Controversial homes project wins approval
Proposals split village
A proposal to create 20 new affordable homes in Balmaha, which split opinion in the village, has been approved.
The national park’s planning committee approved an application from Rural Stirling Housing Association on Monday which will see them build 12 houses and eight flats on woodland near Montrose House, east of the village.
They include homes for rent, shared equity ownership and four cottage flats to be rented to local workers, run in conjunction with East Loch Lomond Community Trust.
Two plots will be available for selfbuild homes to support the financial viability of the project.
The proposal attracted 59 letters of support and 56 objections plus a 105-signature petition backing the development. It was supported by Buchanan Community Council.
RSHA chair Margaret Vass said: “This development will help support the local economy and stem the depopulation of Balmaha due to the high number of second and holiday homes pricing residents out of the housing market.
“The new homes will allow local people to remain in the area with a range of tenure options and help sustain the community and revitalise the village of Balmaha.
“Most importantly it delivers what the community asked for in 2003.
“Balmaha is not unique in having these rural housing issues and we very much hope the innovative approach used here can be applied to other pressured rural locations.”
Planning committee chair Petra Biberbach said: “Housing is a key issue in the national park, which is one of the most expensive places in Scotland to buy a home.
“This, combined with the ageing population of the area, means it is increasingly difficult for younger, working age people and families to live in the park.
“That has a knock-on effect for the sustainability of communities. The need for more affordable housing has been identified by the community in and around Balmaha and is something the park and our partners aim to address through the national park partnership plan over the next five years.
“Whilst some trees in the area will have to be removed to allow the development to go ahead, the trees earmarked for removal have been identified as young and not considered ancient woodland. The mature oak trees which are the most valuable feature of the woodland will remain and further planting of native species at the site is planned.
“The national park is a beautiful and important landscape but it also supports living, working communities that need well-considered developments like this to be able to grow sustainably and encourage younger, working age people to live and work in the area.
In addition to 100 native species of trees being planted on the site to replace some of those being removed, a further 1.5 hectares of native trees will be planted in another area of the national park.
The development will be supported by a grant from the Scottish Government. Construction is expected to begin in March 2019 and last for a year.