16 new homes plan for Callander ditched

Controversial plans to build 16 houses on a site in Callander have been withdrawn by the developers.

Seaforth Developments Ltd had wanted to demolish a house and build 16 new homes at East Mains Nursery, Manse Lane.

However, this week it emerged their application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners had been withdrawn.

Last month, as reported in the Observer, Callander Community Council decided they would be objecting to the application on the grounds that it contained“poor or inadequate information”and would offer poor access onto the A81 from the street.

Several individual objections had already been lodged to the proposals, which included 12 detached homes along with four semi-detached affordable houses.

One neighbour said:“Manse Lane is a narrow lane which would be difficult for construction traffic and later for at least 16 extra cars. This would make life intolerable for residents of Manse Lane and Bridgend. Combined with the proposed development at Claish Farm the volume of traffic in Bridgend during construction and after would become untenable.”Other issues cited included impact on wildlife and flood risk.

Another resident said:“Our lane is a place of calm and beauty but things would drastically change should this proposal go ahead. One more house would be bad but 16 would be a disaster.”

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency had lodged an objection to the plans on the grounds of flood risk.