Springfield Properties chairman Sandy Adam held up placards highlighting the 287 weeks – 5 and a half years – that the council has spent contemplating his Durieshill planning utility.

He was accompanied by an eight-foot Sidney the snail carrying an indication saying “I transfer sooner than Stirling Council”.

Mr Adam additionally attended the council assembly in search of explanations for the planning delays.

It has been 287 weeks since a planning utility was submitted for the Durieshill growth, which might see the development of three,000 new houses within the space.

In response to Sandy Adam, planning officers have failed to fulfill agreed timescales, most lately pushing again a milestone date that had been earmarked for the Part 75 settlement to be tabled.

The Part 75 settlement, relating to Springfield’s contribution to native infrastructure, was as a result of be mentioned at yesterday’s council assembly however was faraway from the agenda on the final minute.

He mentioned: “There’s a well-documented housing disaster in Scotland, with communities throughout the nation crying out for brand new personal and reasonably priced houses. Particularly in Stirling, the necessity for housing was recognized within the native growth plan 20 years in the past. 

“Springfield introduced the answer to Stirling Council in 2016, and councillors instructed their officers to maneuver ahead with this growth in 2019 when permission was granted. Since then, important effort and time has been put into bringing this growth to life, and but 5 years later we now have not been in a position to proceed.

“Durieshill might be a improbable addition to Stirling, and we all know it has the assist of the council who voted to grant planning, and of the area people who’ve been calling for brand new houses for a very long time.

“It’s embarrassing for Stirling Council that we’re on this place, unable to maneuver ahead due to the inaction of officers who’ve given no affordable justification for these delays.”

Sandy Adam continued: “The advantages of Durieshill transcend the availability of housing. It’s going to create jobs and apprentice alternatives, it is going to see the creation of a brand new faculty, enchancment in infrastructure, and inject cash into the native economic system.

“Springfield has intensive expertise in constructing giant village developments and in no different council space have we witnessed something like this. Our Dykes of Grey growth of 1,500 houses took simply 62 weeks for consent to be issued, our Bertha Park growth of three,000 houses took 76 weeks. At Durieshill we’re at 287 weeks and counting.

“We absolutely recognise the significance of getting the Part 75 proper, however the council has had years to take a look at this, and when councillors requested for readability on the difficulty, the response of officers is to postpone choices, reasonably than utilizing the intensive research and reviews out there to reply the questions being raised.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson responded: “The Durieshill growth is considered one of largest detailed planning functions to have been permitted in Scotland. As such it requires considerably extra time to find out than an utility for permission in precept for the same sized growth.

“A growth of this measurement and scale additionally requires advanced mitigations for training and transport infrastructure that entails intensive dialogue with third events to make sure all needed approvals are in place. 

“Stirling Council has already demonstrated important dedication to this main venture, together with the approval of capital funding for a brand new main faculty in March 2023.

“The council and the developer are near finishing the Part 75 settlement course of, and the council stays dedicated to working carefully with the developer to make sure the event is successfully deliberate and managed, whereas the suitable democratic scrutiny takes place.

“Detailed work on pre-start circumstances can also be underway which can enable the developer to start out on the earliest alternative as soon as all approvals are in place.”
 

Obtained a narrative? E-mail information@theconstructionindex.co.uk