Green light for new home in walled garden

Conditional approval has been granted for a new home to be built near Bridge of Allan.

Stirling Council planners have given the green light to an application by Calum Mcreight to subdivide a plot and build a one-storey house at the walled garden of Lecropt Hill near B-listed Lecropt House.

Two representations were submitted, both neither objecting nor supporting the application, raising comments on trees on the site, bats and other wildlife, and that the development should not be allowed to set a precedent for erosion of the greenbelt.

However, council planners said: “A tree protection plan will be conditioned as part of the landscaping scheme and a bat advisory will be included in the decision notice.

“It is not considered that the development will have a detrimental impact on biodiversity.

“Proposals are assessed on their individual merits.”

The planners added that planning guidance allowed for a single house if located within a substantially intact walled garden and proposals of this nature are also acceptable, in principle, in designated green belt areas.

They said: “The proposed development has supporting information detailing that whilst the wall is substantially intact, it requires significant restoration works. The construction of a dwelling house in this site would enable these restoration works to take place and would ensure the long term preservation of the walled garden.

“Overall, this is a simple but contemporary dwelling house. The design moves away from the more traditional Scottish countryside houses, however, in this instance considering the setting behind a walled garden, the site history and neighbouring property, this is considered acceptable.”