Springfield’s 3,000-home Stirling ‘village’ recommended for approval
Stirling councillors will tomorrow be asked to approve plans for a 3,000-home application by Springfield Properties at Durieshill.
The application is the latest in the housebuilder’s line of ‘village’ sites across Scotland.
Under the plans, 3,002 homes, open space and landscaping, as well as a primary school will be delivered on a 240-hectare site between Plean and the Bannockburn Interchange.
The housing element will comprise of 2116 houses and 896 flats as well as 30 units designed for residential care and care facilities.
A quarter of the homes will be affordable homes to be delivered in partnership with Stirling Council and housing associations.
A 30-bed care home, designed principally for people with dementia and respite care, is located within the heart of the development.
Council planners are recommending approval of the plans but have requested that 157 conditions be attached to any consent, according to reports.
In their report to Tuesday’s meeting, council planners said: “At present, the site is predominantly actively managed agricultural land comprising open pasture and arable fields with a number of farms within the boundary.
“Also scattered throughout the site are houses, sited individually or as part of residential clusters, which are located predominantly within the northern section and along the Roman Road. A pre-school nursery is also located next to the Roman Road, which is regarded as the central spine of the site. The residential areas are divided into nine character areas, each with a particular identity.”
Planners added: “With appropriate site investigations and remediation, it is reasonably considered that the development would not have an adverse effect on human health as a consequence of contaminated land and ground stability issues associated with past mining activities on the site.
“It would not result in the loss of ‘prime’ agricultural land and is not found to be in conflict with the Local Development Plan. The housing allocation makes a significant contribution to Stirling’s five-year effective housing land supply.
“The development would not harm the amenity of any residential property in terms of noise, privacy, sunlight and ambient daylight (overshadowing), over-dominance, impact of landscape change, and odour.
“No objections have been raised [by roads officials] subject to on and off-site measures to mitigate the traffic impacts of the development and imposed as conditions of consent.
“Financial contributions would be secured for the delivery of health care provision within the health care catchment area relating to the site, for which specific solutions have been identified.
“It is acknowledged that the planning authority has no control over the uptake of the proposed shop/ commercial units being largely influenced by external factors outwith the scope of the planning application process.
“However, the delivery of commercial units and the infrastructure necessary to support those units (active travel, public transport and community infrastructure including public ream) would be conditions imposed on any planning permission.”