Stirling Council give conditional nod to Premier Inn

Sep 18 2009 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING is a step closer to replacing a disused city centre site with a 110-bedroom £10 million Premier Inn hotel.

Stirling Council’s planning panel yesterday (Thursday) gave conditional approval to the application by Wordie Properties Ltd for the site just off Dumbarton Road.

The developers have been working for several years to find a suitable development for the site, which currently houses a number of disused buildings including some former public toilets.

The plot was previously earmarked for two pubs and a restaurant – proposals which were rejected by Stirling Council at the end of 2004 following more than 120 individual objections, along with those of two local community councils.

This time round there were no individual objections and the hotel proposal appears to have generally found acceptance with locals and with Stirling Civic Trust, despite some reservations over the detail.

Historic Scotland, however, did object, saying the development would have a significant adverse impact on the setting of Stirling’s historic city wall, adding: “The section of the city wall contained within the current application site remains at present a dominant feature of the townscape.

“The proposed development would diminish the dominance, due to its scale, massing and design, altering this key characteristic of the monument.”

The agency’s objection means the application will now have to be referred to Scottish Ministers, who will decide whether or not to call in the application or simply rubber stamp the council’s decision.

Although there will be no on-site parking, the developers say they will be entering into an agreement and promoting the use of existing nearby parking facilities, adding that proximity to the railway and bus stations had also been an important factor in the choice of site.

Councillors on the planning panel, however, voiced concerns about inadequate disabled parking facilities specific to the hotel, and want these addressed before the development goes ahead. They also stipulated that details of the materials to be used in the building must also be submitted for approval prior to any work being carried out, given they were anxious that it blend in appropriately with existing surrounding buildings.

Other provisos include that more consideration be given to sustainability and minimising the development’s carbon footprint, plus a commitment be made to advertising any related job opportunities locally. A survey will also be carried out on the section of the wall. This would be used as a baseline for any assessment in the event of any issues arising about damage to the listed structure during building work.

Councillor Margaret Brisley wanted a decision on the application deferred until concerns were address, although she said she had no objection to the principle of development on the site. She failed to find a seconder, but asked for her dissent to the panel’s decision to be recorded.