Student flats to be built on friary site Seven-storey block agreed near city railway station
A seven-storey building opposite Stirling Railway Station, with room for more than 100 students, has been given the goahead.
Stirling Council planners have granted conditional approval for the new student accommodation on the site of a medieval friary behind Murray Place and opposite the station in Goosecroft Road.
It will be made up of 104 studio apartments and two, twobedroom apartments across the seven floors.
The ground floor includes one two-bedroom apartment as well as a student lounge, cinema, gym, laundry, meeting/study room, office and reception.
A cycle store for 44 bikes will also be created in a courtyard area to the back of the building, accessed via a pend.
The site will destroy remains of Stirling’s historic friary, however the council’s archaeologist said it would be inappropriate to object to the development given planning permission had already been granted on sites to either side of the current project.
Some conditions will be attached, however, in a bid to preserve any remains where possible.
Four objections were submitted to the bid - by K R Developments Group Ltd and
Stirling Development Agency Ltd - citing concerns over lack of off-road parking for people with disabilities, noise from a nearby nightclub, and that the proposed seven-storey flats and low floor to ceiling heights were out of keeping with the adjacent new build flats to the north.
In their decision, council planners said, however: “The site is located within the city centre. It is a gap/infill site, prominently located adjacent to Goosecroft Road.
“It has been a longstanding development site within the council’s development plans. This area of the city centre is a key destination and arrival point with the railway station, itself a Category A Listed Building, and the bus station located in close proximity.
“The site is located within the Stirling Town and Royal Park Conservation Area. It occupies an important location visually, providing the foreground views from the east of the dramatic rise towards the castle, the distinctive skyline of rooftops cascading down the crag and tail.”
They added: “Completion of this block is considered beneficial, as it forms an important gateway to the edge of the city centre. Currently the predominately open nature, exposes the rear of buildings along Murray Place and results in a poor entrance and impression of the city centre at this point.
“The site’s city centre location means the development benefits from existing walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, allowing for ease of access to a variety of local amenities.”
Developers intend to market the accommodation as car free, and no car parking spaces are to be provided on site.
Environmental health officials were said to have had no objections, however noise mitigation measures have been included in conditions.
In recent years various developers have come forward with proposals for accommodation catering for more than 600 students within the city centre.
Larger scale student accommodation has at times proved controversial in recent years.