‘Supervillage’ decision due
3000-home plan put before council
Stirling councillors were discussing yesterday (Tuesday) whether to approve what is thought to be one of the biggest single planning applications lodged in Scotland.
As the Observer went to press, Stirling Council’s planning panel was due to debate plans for a 3000-home ‘supervillage’ between Plean and Bannockburn.
The application by Springfield Properties for the Durieshill site was being recommended for approval by council planners – but with a whopping 157 conditions attached to any consent.
Plans to create a ‘supervillage’ at Durieshill emerged in 2004 when the land was first allocated for homes in the Local Plan.
Since then it has had a lengthy and chequered history. This includes it being backed at a public inquiry by the Scottish Executive in 2006, but building work to this point has failed to materialise.
Springfield became backers in 2016, estimating that work would have started by now.
It is thought by planners that the proposal may be the largest single application ever seen in Scotland, similar proposals having been dealt with by separate phased applications.
Phasing and implementation of the ‘supervillage’ would, however, take place over a 30 year period. Just 50 homes would be built in the first year – including 26 affordable homes – with up to 100 homes each year thereafter.
Crucial to the success of the development could be the balance between the creation of housing and related services and infrastructure over the decades.
The residential component of the application includes 3,012 new homes (2116 houses and 896 flats) and 30 units designed for residential care. There will be 25 per cent affordable provision: 2279 market homes and 763 affordable homes.
A 30-bed care home, designed principally for people with dementia and respite care, is located within the heart of the development.
Fifteen shops and other commercial units are proposed including a cafe, concentrated around a pedestrianised civic square, and there would also be a business park with the potential to support 612 jobs – although this would be delivered by other parties dependent on market demand.
A community campus would accommodate a double stream primary school and a secondary school. While both would serve Durieshill there is potential for future phases to accommodate pupils from other future developments within the Bannockburn High School catchment area.
Almost 900 supplementary documents are attached to the application – from the applicants themselves, consultants, council officials, statutory consultees and contributors – making it arguably one of the most extensive and complex single development proposals seen in the Stirling area in decades.
The site lies to the south of Stirling, around 1.5 kilometres from the edge of Bannockburn and 1.5 kilometres north-west of Plean, bounded on the north and west by the M9 and A872 and by Cadgers Loan to the south-east.