Bulldozer bid by hotel developers
Developers want to demolish an 18th century building in Killearn and build flats from scratch, claiming the building was in too bad a state to renovate.
Stirling Council’s planning panel approved an application by Apsis Solutions for the conversion of the derelict Killearn Hotel - also known as the Black Bull - into flats in October 2017.
This was despite 36 objections to the plans and pleas from locals who wanted more time for efforts to retain the building, one of the oldest in the village, fearing the character of the Conservation Area would be impacted.
Since then, however, the conversion has failed to materialise and now new applicants Killearn Developments Ltd say the former hotel is so dilapidated that the only viable solution is to demolish it so they can create 16 completely new flats.
The hotel forms a group of historic buildings in the village which also include cottages and the Old Kirk which are currently B-listed.
Also nearby is the A-listed a small public amenity space facing towards the monument.”
The architects said there had been no interest in reopening the building as a pub and to deliver the previously approved housing through restoration work would involve rectifying all the problems with the building.
They added: “Country/village pubs have been closing at an accelerated rate and while there have been community buyouts these have been relatively few and far between. Two years or so ago some villagers did initiate a campaign to save the hotel as a public house but this was not sustained.
“In our opinion, the applicant has undertaken all reasonable steps in assessing the viability of the current building and is now bringing forward a proposal that will deliver much needed additional housing to Killearn.”
The hotel, once owned by Punch Taverns, ceased trading in January 2016 following an unsettled period when a succession of licensees failed to make the hotel profitable.
Since then, the building has been closed and its condition has deteriorated.