Tooclose home canstay
A new home in Callander, which was found to have been built too close to a neighbouring property, has been approved.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners have granted a retrospective application by Sid Ashford for the oneand-a-half storey house and formation of an access on land north of Roslin Cottage on Stirling Road (A84).
Permission had previously been granted to the then owners of Roslin Cottage to subdivide the plot and build a house to the back of the site, to be accessed from Robertson Way.
Work started in February 2018, but in March 2019, following a query from a neighbour, it was found the new house was being built 0.5 metres closer to a neighbouring property than the approved plans and 0.3 metres higher.
The latest application sought retrospective permission for the new home - however 16 representations were made to the application, 15 raising objections citing issues such as road safety, parking, privacy and loss of daylight for neighbouring properties, and insensitive scale.
However, in a summary of supporting information, the planners’ decision stated: “It is still a modest dwelling and subject to the above recommended conditions, the principle of development is accepted. Subdivision of similar plots to provide housing to the rear is not uncommon in parts of Callander.
“Shading of neighbouring gardens would only be for limited periods in the day and both neighbouring properties have large gardens which would not be totally overshadowed by the proposed development.
“According to Stirling Council transport development team, dwellings with one or two bedrooms require at least one parking space. The proposed layout has space for at least two cars within the garden grounds and this would also provide parking for guests. The proposed development provides adequate off-street parking. The National Park is guided by the roads authority on road safety matters and they have raised no issues regarding the safety of the junction.
“It is recommended that permitted development rights are removed to ensure the proposed dwelling remains within an affordable range and to ensure that further rooflights are not installed without the benefit of planning permission.