Villagers’ fury over new plan

Bid to build retirement complex

Angry residents are preparing to fight against plans to create a retirement village between Causewayhead and Blairlogie.

Last Friday the Observer revealed a developer had earmarked a site for around 165 retirement houses plus a 60-bed care home and village centre.

Stirling Council planners had been asked for a formal screening opinion by planning consultants Andrew Bennie Ltd on behalf of an anonymous developer, on whether a planning application for the proposal at Powis Mains would need to be supported by an environmental impact assessment.

The 19.3 hectare site sits to the north of the A907 Alloa Road on the corner of the Manor Powis roundabout between the Alloa Road to Causewayhead and the road leading to Blairlogie and the Hillfoots.

While no formal planning application has yet been submitted people living nearby are already up in arms at the site proposal.

Residents of the small settlement Craigmill say such a development could spoil iconic views of the Wallace Monument and that the green belt needs to be protected.

A spokesperson for the residents, Paul McDonald, said: “Residents wrote to the council asking for clarification on a number of points. The council is fully aware of significant issues surrounding the area.”

Neighbours say the proposal “in no way” meets the criteria for compatibility with green belt designation.

Mr McDonald added: “The area concerned is the last section of open land giving views from main access roads, the A91 and A907, towards the iconic Wallace Monument, a tourist destination visited by well over 100,000 people annually.

“Any development in this area will significantly diminish the visual impact and stature of the monument.

“The whole environment around the proposed site is one of a rural/agricultural nature with no line of sight towards significant development of a more urban nature.

“A development of some 165 houses (including flats and a social centre) would hugely alter the character of the area to its detriment.

“The infrastructure in and around the proposed site is at present totally inadequate for a large development such as that suggested.

“We would therefore urge the planning authority to remind the developers of their statutory responsibility to respect national planning designations.”

Last week planning consultant Andrew Bennie told the Observer his clients were looking to provide state-of-the art accommodation for active older people.

He added: “This specific location has been chosen as it provides great connectivity opportunities and there is the ability to integrate the development into the surrounding area.”

He said studies showed a “desperate need” for a different approach to housing an ageing population, adding: “We will be delighted to publish, and indeed discuss, our proposals in more detail with the community and other interested parties in due course.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson said this week: “No application has been submitted in relation to this proposed development.

“Developments of this nature have to go through a formal process which would involve engagement with the local community prior to any formal application being submitted.

“It would be inappropriate for the council to comment on such an application until it had come before the planning and regulation panel.”