Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Stirling Planning Ahead: Huge Affordable Golf shop gets the go-ahead

Golf, a former butcher shop, and homes, new and old, are all on the list.

Ready to tee off? Then we've got good news for you. Image: ARIMAG/Shutterstock/DC Thomson
Ready to tee off? Then we've got good news for you. Image: ARIMAG/Shutterstock/DC Thomson

It’s time for Planning Ahead, our regular digest of all the most interesting recent Stirling Council planning permission requests.

There are plenty of updates to applications that have featured in previous editions of Planning Ahead.

One of them will be of great interest to Stirling locals who know their putters from their pitching wedges.

But, before we get to the green, take a look at what else has been going on in the world of planning in and around Stirling.


St Ninians housing one step closer

An artist’s impression of how the affordable housing site in St Ninians could eventually look. Image: Stirling Council

As The Courier reporter last week, Stirling Council has just approved procurement for the design and building of 44 affordable properties at Graystale Road in St Ninians.

Plans to erect new social housing on the St Ninians site were first approved in 2021, and planning permission was granted in August 2024.

The spot has lain empty since council-owned four-storey tenement flats, originally built in the 1950s, were demolished 13 years ago.

Sixteen one and two-bedroom cottage flats are planned, along with 24 two, three and four-bedroom flats within two-storey blocks.

There will also be four accessible properties, ranging from two to four bedrooms each.

Planning reference: 23/00718/FUL

Planning permission renewal for Raploch church

The extensive planned refurbishment of St Mark’s has been in the works for several years. Image: Google Street View

A request has been made to renew previously granted planning permission for work on St Mark’s Parish Church in Stirling’s Raploch area.

Back in March 2022, Stirling Council approved a plan to extend and alter the existing church building.

Demolition of an existing building to make way for a new multipurpose hall was also green-lit, along with garden landscaping.

Legislation states that work must start on any agreed planning applications within three years of securing approval, which is why the St Mark’s plan has been resubmitted.

This suggests that refurbishment will still go ahead in the future.

Planning reference: 24/00779/FUL

Proposed Kippen butcher shop conversion

Skinner of Kippen could be transformed into a holiday let after sitting empty for some time. Image: Google Street View

In December 2024, we wrote about a proposal to convert Kippen’s former butcher shop into a short-term holiday let.

Skinner of Kippen, on Main Street, was devastated by a fire in July 2022.

The property was then sold for residential use, and permission to convert it into a home was granted by Stirling Council in January 2024.

Nearly a year later, a request to make it a holiday let was submitted.

The designs showed the house would have two storeys and a garden or patio to the rear.

Inside, it would have a kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms, a shower room, and a lounge.

The December planning application was withdrawn recently, but the design has now been resubmitted by the same applicant under a new reference number.

Planning reference: 25/00057/FUL

Garden work for historic home near Stirling Castle

The house is a stone’s throw from Stirling Castle and the Church of the Holy Rude. Image: Clyde Property

Four-bedroom, four-storey 18th-century house Valley Lodge on Stirling’s Castle Wynd went up for sale in May last year, with prospective buyers warned that “significant upgrades” would be required.

Its new owner has applied for permission to carry out landscaping work, as well as resurfacing the driveway and widening the access to the drive, making it easier for modern vehicles to gain entry.

The application paperwork states that the work to the existing garden wall would be done by hand, not using machinery, and any large stones removed would be laid aside and stored for future use.

Planning references: 25/00038/FUL and 25/00039/LBC

Dunblane school chapel repairs shelved

The historic chapel building was built in 1913

Last month, we told you that Queen Victoria School in Dunblane was seeking planning permission to carry out extensive works on its 112-year-old chapel.

The application said necessary repairs to the A-listed building included replacing guttering, mending windows and doors and tending to stonework, roof slates, ironmongery and loose flooring.

However, the request to Stirling Council has now been withdrawn.

Planning reference: 24/00756/LBC

Hole-in-one for Affordable Golf shop plan

Customers will be able to receive tuition as well as purchase golfing equipment. Image: Albe84/Shutterstock

Golf equipment retailer Affordable Golf has had a spot on Borrowmeadow Road in its sights for around six months now – we first wrote about the planning application in August 2024.

Now, the plan has been approved with conditions by the council.

Located close to Springkerse Roundabout, the shop will supply both new and used items, including golf clubs, bags, trolleys, clothing, shoes and other accessories.

An indoor practice area will offer golf lessons, and there will be a fitting service available for customers.

With stores already open in Hillington, Irvine and East Kilbride and 25 years of experience, this will be the company’s first Stirling branch, with between five and seven staff members.

Planning reference: 24/00699/FUL

You can see the plans here:

St Ninians affordable housing

St Mark’s Church planning permission renewal

Kippen butcher shop conversion

Valley Lodge access works

Queen Victoria School chapel repairs shelved

Golf equipment shop gets approval


For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook

Conversation