Pair of planned housing developments in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan see appeals fail

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Developers have lost appeals on two separate proposed housing developments in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane.

Allanwater Homes’ plans to build 46 homes - a third of which would have been ‘affordable’ - on a 3.45 hectare greenfield site off Bridge of Allan’s Blairforkie Drive had attracted around 300 objections including from Dunblane and Bridge of Allan community councils.

Residents living near the site – bounded by the popular Darn Walk, Blairforkie Drive and Fishers Green – had expressed concern about its potential environmental impact as well as increased road traffic and pressures on infrastructure.

But Allanwater Homes lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government planning and environmental appeals division (DPEA) on the failure of Stirling Council to determine planning permission.

The DPEA reporter, however, has now dismissed the appeal and refused planning permission.

Principal reporter David Buylla said: “While I find the proposal satisfies some requirements of the development plan, the principle of development is not supported by that plan and, overall, I find the proposal to be contrary to the development plan.

“The proposal would contribute to the local and national economy and would deliver much needed affordable housing in a location that is within a 10 minute walk of the town centre. It would also assist in addressing the housing emergency. These are positive considerations to weigh against the development plan conflict.”

However, he added: “The harm the proposal would cause to the amenity of users of the adjacent core path is, in contrast, a negative material consideration.

“Having regard to all of the evidence that has been put before me, I find that the clear conflict with the development plan is not outweighed by other material considerations. Consequently, there are no grounds to permit this appeal.”

In a submission to the DPEA, agents for Allanwater Homes had argued that the development would help address housing need and that there were no objections from consultees.

Mr Buylla said while around 33 per cent of the proposed homes would be affordable and meet with specific National Planning Framework policy, the remaining 67 per cent could not.#

In a separate case, DPEA reporters also rejected an appeal by Kippendavie Group Trust for 44 homes on land east of Kellie Wynd, Leighton Avenue and Leighton Court, and Robertson Road in Dunblane, which was refused by Stirling Council in March last year.

The plans included selfbuild and custom-build homes and affordable housing, and a neighbourhood community hub (class 10).

In his decision, DPEA reporter Christopher Warren said: “The proposed development does not accord overall with the relevant provisions of the development plan and that there are no material considerations which would still justify granting planning permission.

“Mr Warren said the development would make a “modest but valuable” contribution to the availability of affordable housing but that it was unclear whether self-build or custom-build opportunities could be fairly described as addressing an ‘identified gap’ in housing provision

On a 2022 survey conducted by the developer, with 265 respondents, the reporter said the questions posed offered “little insight” into housing needs and its finding that 99 per cent of those looking for a new home would ‘like’ to build their own home was not suprising but did not not mean this would be a “realistic proposition, financially viable, an appropriate and/or only means by which respondents” housing needs could be satisfied.

Green councillor for the Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward, Alasdair Tollemache, said: “I am very pleased that the appeals have been dismissed for both the Blairforkie drive development in Bridge of Allan, and Kellie Wynd development in Dunblane.

“This protects local democracy within the Local development Plan and the need to protect green space and biodiversity.”

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