Doubts emerge over city homes
Question mark on sheltered housing
A possible question mark has arisen over the future of a controversial development planned for Stirling.
Retirement house builder McCarthy and Stone and several partners plan sheltered housing and fast-food outlets on land next to the Orchard House surgery in Union Street.
Despite objections from Stirling councillors, the scheme was given the nod following an appeal to the Scottish Government.
However, possible doubt about the way in which the scheme will proceed emerged last week following a story in the Observer’s sister title, the Perthshire Advertiser.
In response to an inquiry about a proposed development in Kinross, the managing director of McCarthy & Stone Jonathan Fair told the PA : “Following the restructuring of our business, we are not progressing new development projects in Scotland. [However], we remain committed to our sites currently under construction and those where apartments are for sale.
“We intend to proceed with our planning application and secure full planning permission for our development proposals and then in conjunction with the landowner, sell on the site with the benefit of the consent secured for another party to develop.”
Asked whether Mr Fair’s comment had implications for the site near Orchard House – where development work has yet to start – a spokesman said nothing had been decided.
“There are still decisions to be made on one or two sites and we hope to have a statement by the middle of January.”
It is understood there are ongoing discussions with Stirling Council about the development’s Section 75 agreement. It will dictate what, if any, financial contribution developers have to make towards schools, roads, transport, public realm, affordable housing, etc.
In addition to McCarthy & Stone, plans for the development are being progressed by Caledon/TDL, Raploch Urban Regeneration Company, Scottish ministers and NHS Forth Valley.
Stirling Council’s planning panel rejected plans for the development in May despite a planners’ recommendation for conditional approval.
Councillors decided the proposal constituted “gross over-development” of the site, represented a loss of valuable open space and was an inappropriate location for sheltered housing. They also thought it would impact on views from Stirling Castle and Stirling Bridge there were further concerns about the lack of affordable housing in the development despite the backers’ argument that this was not required given occupancy of the flats would be limited to older people.
Four submissions made by the public had taken issue over fast food outlets on the site, the height of buildings planned, loss of trees, increased traffic and pressure on parking.
An appeal lodged by the developers with the Scottish Government’s DPEA (Planning and Environment Appeals Division) in an attempt to overturn the panel’s decision, was conditionally approved.