Doubt is cast over ‘supervillage’ plan

House build proposal described as ambitious

Councillors have cast doubt on the likelihood of longstanding “supervillage” plans materialising any time soon as part of a £112 million plan to deliver almost 1000 affordable homes across Stirling.

Last Thursday, Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee approved the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which sets out the authority’s affordable housing priorities for the next five years.

It proposes, across 202025, that 913 new affordable homes will be provided throughout Stirling by three main providers - Stirling Council (475 new homes), Forth Housing Association (257) and Rural Stirling Housing Association (181).

A further 75 homes will be provided by Castle Rock Edinvar (59) and Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association (16).

However, hopes that 25 council homes a year could be built at the Durieshill site between Plean and Bannockburn were described as “ambitious” by one cautious local councillor. In December 2017 developers Springfield Properties submitted an application to council planners for permission in principle for 3000 homes at Durieshill, dubbed the “supervillage” when the land was first allocated in the Local Plan in 2004. Since then it has had a lengthy and chequered history, including being backed at a public inquiry by the Scottish Executive in 2006, but building work has yet to materialise.

Springfield had originally estimated that its building work would start in 2019/20 with an initial 50 homes, followed by 75 the following year and 100 each year from then on.

At Thursday’s committee meeting, local SNP councillor Alasdair Macpherson, seeing the site included in the SHIP document, said: “Looking at the projected site of Durieshill for next year, I can’t see that happening to be honest. I see that as a bit ambitious.

“It doesn’t have infrastructure never mind building work, so I hope you have back up plans.” Committee chair Councillor Jim Thomson added: “I think it’s a fair point and perhaps there should be a risk register attached to the SHIP. If Durieshill doesn’t go ahead we need to fill the gap.”

Officials said the SHIP built in a 30 per cent “slippage factor”, with other projects able to be brought in, to cover Durieshill and any other major projects which were not ready, and that discussions would be ongoing with the developer and planners.

Among other priorities outlined in Stirling’s SHIP is completing the regeneration of Cornton, Cultenhove and Raploch.

The council is working in partnership with Robertson Group to deliver 319 new homes in Raploch by 2022. It is anticipated that 185 new social rented properties will be delivered over four sites, split between the council and Forth Housing Association.

A further 59 houses for shared equity and mid-market rent (Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association) and 75 for sale by Robertson Homes will also be provided.

The SHIP also includes 46 new council homes within the Newpark Farm development at St Ninians, and 24 properties at Johnston Avenue in Cornton by Forth Housing Association.

Other priorities include investing in pressured areas, in particular pressured rural areas, and the South Stirling Gateway is also reflected within the plan.

Chief housing officer Lorna Cameron said: “The SHIP will be an important step in improving the quality of life for many residents by helping to ensure everyone has housing that meets their needs.

“These new homes will be built across the Stirling area, from Callander to Dunblane, from Croftamie to Raploch, across our urban and rural areas, as part of our aims to transform and regenerate our towns and villages for all the people who live there.

“These projects will also help secure new and existing jobs and training opportunities in the construction sector for our businesses and residents.”