A transformational redevelopment of Craigforth Campus has been approved by Stirling Council, subject to certain conditions being met by developers.
Stirling Council’s planning and regulation panel met on Tuesday to discuss the suggested overhaul of the site, which has been left unused since M&G moved to new premises at Kildean Business Park in 2022.
The current proposal, put forward by Ambassador LB Holdings LLP, includes plans for housing, a nursery, a hotel, a restaurant or pub, a gym, and a retail or community space.
It also incorporates a new three-storey office block north of the main redevelopment area. This is close to the former Lomond View building, which has already been approved for conversion into a distillery.
When asked what the intended timescale was for the project, the Ambassador Group’s representative said the aim was to start work on the planned distillery immediately after approval, with the goal of completing it within the first year of construction.
The residential element of the redevelopment would then be built during year two, followed by commercial venues in year three. Finally, the proposed hotel would be built during a fourth year of work.
Concerns over public transport, wildlife and flooding
As part of the council hearing, questions were raised by councillors around the provision of public transport for the area, as well as adequate active travel routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
There were also worries aired about whether or not leisure facilities at the Craigforth Campus site had the potential to take footfall away from Stirling city centre.
Key concerns raised since the planning application was first made in 2020 have included the potential for flooding in the area, and the possible impact on the environment, its wildlife, and its heritage.
Writing in October 2023, a Drip Bridge resident said: “I object strongly to the development of this area. This week, this area has seen terrible flooding with land and housing being badly damaged.
“Any development which will hamper the natural drainage, will likely result in further problems should the river burst its banks in the future.
“We also now have beavers along the banks which are a protected species.”
Despite initial reservations, though, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency removed its objection to the proposals, on the condition that adequate flood risk assessments will be carried out before the green light is given. Historic Environment Scotland also removed a past objection.
While some official bodies, such as Transport Scotland and Roads Development Control, have stipulated strict conditions for approval, none currently object to the plans.
‘We want to bring up our daughter in a safe rural environment’
But, in letters submitted between August 2020 and July 2024, locals have shared their worries about how the changes might affect road safety.
One parent wrote: “A large part of the reason we moved was to bring up our daughter in a safe rural environment.
“We would be concerned that an increased level of potential traffic would put our daughter and the other children in the development at greater risk.”
The developers say the bulk of traffic will enter and exit the site via the nearby A84
The narrow North Kersebonny access road is of particular concern for residents, who fear the route – which has no pavements, and is regularly used by walkers and cyclists – will become a thoroughfare for cars between the main road and the Craigforth Campus development.
The developers behind the application say the bulk of traffic will enter and exit the site via the nearby A84.
And some members of the public have expressed support for the development. Environmental group Treelink Stirling commented in a letter that the plan “enhances and positively develops the existing woodland and open spaces to support biodiversity”, as well as “enhances the existing public access to woodlands and other open spaces on the site”.
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