Housing developers have lodged plans for almost 40 new homes in a rural Stirlingshire village.
An application by Andrew Haslam, Ogilvie Homes Ltd and other has been submitted to Stirling Council planners for 38 houses on land next to south of Menzies Terrace in Fintry.
The site, described as open area and woodland, is allocated in the Stirling Local Development Plan for 40 homes and is surrounding by residential dwellings on Menzies Terrace, Kippen Road and Culcreuch Avenue, with Fintry Primary School to the south and farm land to the east.
So far the only consultation response formally submitted to the application is an objection - from Stirling Council’s assistant flood officer.
The official wrote to planners: “This site lies within a known problem area of flooding and Stirling Council holds extensive records of flooding in the area. The ingress/egress route for this development is also frequently blocked due to flooding to depths likely impassable by emergency vehicles.
“The flood risk assessment submitted with the application indicates a large proportion of the site forms part of the functional flood plain. We therefore recommend an objection to this development on the grounds of flood risk.”
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A flood risk assessment has acknowledged some flooding issues on the site and suggested measures, including the ability to use an emergency only access/exit if required.
The development would feature 24 four-bed private houses and three three-bed private houses along with 11 affordable homes - four two-bed cottage flats, four two-bed terraced/semi-detached, one two-bed semi-detached, and two three-bed terraced/semi-detached.
Vehicle access to the development would be via Menzies Terraces and open space and play provision would feature on the site.
In documents submitted with the application, agents for the developers said: “The area is considered to have a need for affordable housing, so for developments of four units or more, a 33 per cent affordable housing contribution will be required.
“Our development includes 11 affordable housing units - 29 per cent of the entire number of plots on the site. To compensate for the shortfall of 1.54 units to make up to the 33 pe cent required, Ogilvie Homes understand there will need to be a consideration for a community sum to be paid to Stirling Council.
“The site itself is not identified as at risk of flooding, with the indicative floodplain for the river being well west of the B822, and south of the Culcreuch Castle driveway.
“However, the LDP does nonetheless require a Flood Risk Assessment to be submitted with the planning application.
“In terms of infrastructure considerations, the LDP states that there is capacity in terms of water supply (Carron Valley) and at the waste water treatment works (Fintry) for new development. It also indicates that there is capacity at Fintry Primary School, but capacity at Balfron High School is limited. The setting of Culcreuch Castle is preserved by the fact that the best of the trees on site are being retained, with additional planting, which will ensure that there is almost no intervisibility between the new development and the castle.
“A tree survey report was carried out and has concluded there are a number of trees within the development boundary which could be retained and a number of trees which should be removed due to condition. Our proposed development takes cognisance of the existing woodland areas on the site with a small number of trees proposed to be removed to enable development of the full site.
“The development is allocated in the adopted LDP for up to 40 properties. A mix of three and four bedroom market houses ranging from 1000-1900sq/ft are spread through the development.
“One parcel of affordable housing is included at the entrance of the site adjacent to Menzies Terrace including two and three bedroom properties, alongside one two-bedroom wheelchair bungalow. The affordable housing mix was advised by Stirling Council.”
