Farm plan progress
Conditional approval has been granted to relocate farm operations and build a new farmhouse near Thornhill.
Mr M Steedman had submitted an application to Stirling Council planners for Mains Farm Caravan Park off Kippen Road.
In supporting documents with the application, the applicant’s agents cited the the safety of farm operations within the current site and its unsuitability for modern farming techniques as being behind the proposal. Specific concerns included safety of access and that existing equipment could not be accommodated and also that the current farmhouse was in poor condition.
Under the plans other outdated buildings would be removed in the redevelopment and replaced with more suitable buildings for modern farming away from the village including those used for sheep, cattle and storage of produce.
In their decision, the planners said:“On balance, it is considered that there is enough evidence to support an additional house in this instance. It is accepted that there is a labour requirement for an on-site presence in association with the operations of the farm.
“In order to ensure the new house is tied to agricultural use a condition has been recommended to restrict the occupancy of this house. This is considered necessary in this instance due to the circumstances of the case and that there would be no support for an open market house in this location.
“In terms of siting, the location is considered acceptable, it is located in such a way that it is not prominent from the main road, and will be mostly screened by existing boundary features.
“In terms of access, Roads Development Control have no objection to the proposals subject to the inclusion of conditions, including an upgrade of the access to the public road and formation of the required visibility sightlines.”
Details of the house design are expected to be the subject of a further application, however the applicants have indicated it could be a one-and-a-half storey home using traditional materials such as slate roof and natural stone.