Site visit before decision on house
Concerns over countryside location to be assessed
Councillors are to visit a site in Carron Valley before deciding whether to grant a couple’s wish to be allowed to build a farmhouse there.
Alasdair and Maureen MacGregor applied to Stirling Council to build a two-storey house near Rosehall which they say is needed to oversee an agricultural business.
However, council planners recommended refusal of the bid saying it could not be justified and the design of the house was unsuitable for the countryside location.
Carron Valley Community Council had also objected to the application over the house’s position, also questioning the agricultural justification.
Agricultural consultants acting on behalf of Stirling Council had said further clarification was needed about several aspects of the application including financial costings showing the proposed store cattle production business would generate enough income to provide a living for the applicant in the proposed house.
Mr MacGregor told Stirling Council’s planning panel on Tuesday, however, that he had invested his own money to set up the business, limiting any overheads.
Mr MacGregor said: “I have spent £500,000 buying land, animals and machinery. I need a house desperately. If the planners have concerns about the size of the house we can speak about that.
“Whatever happens at this meeting I won’t stop buying land and setting up this farm.”
In response to questions raised previously by the council’s agricultural consultants, Mr MacGregor said he had been in the fortunate financial position of being able to purchase a range of machinery himself - bypassing the need other farms might have to bring farming contractors in to do some of the work - plus had a large number of cows - Belgian Blue Limousin Cross, which needed full-time care.
“I just want a house and if the council can tell me what I need to build that’s what I’ll build because this is about the fact my cows need looked after.
“I have worked hard all my life in the agriculture industry and forestry and have been fortunate to come into a bit of money. We had looked to buy an existing farm but it was already earmarked for housing. I want to create Rosebank Farm for my family and have been buying land round about it. I will make enough money to live off it and my son is as keen as me to carry things on. I didn’t go into this with a llama and a Highland coo, I’ve got 40 Limousins.”
His agent, planning consultant James Reilly, said they were disappointed at how they had been treated during the planning process by council planning officials. This included claims they had not been giving the opportunity to respond to a third series of queries posed by the council’s consultant from the Scottish Agricultural College, and that council planners had not raised any concerns with them previously about the design of the house.
However, vice convener Chris Kane spoke out in defence of the officers’ professionalism.
The panel appeared open to Mr MacGregor’s case for building the house, however were conflicted as to how best to move things forward.
Councillor Jim Thomson said: “I’m just uncomfortable making a decision when there is perhaps still other information that can assist us.”
Some members felt it would be more beneficial to refuse the application, giving the MacGregors an opportunity to come back with an alternative design within 12 months - meaning no additional submission cost - and a further chance to make a case for justification and viability.
Councillor Alistair Berrill added: “All members of the panel will join me in sympathy for the applicant wanting to set up a business but there are issues which have not been satisfied to date. Wouldn’t it be better to refuse this so he could come back with a new application?”
Panel members voted by four votes to three, however, to make a site visit before reaching a decision on the application, on the recommendation of panel chair Councillor Alasdair Macpherson. This was despite Councillor Kane suggesting the move would still not solve the issue of additional information being needed on the agricultural requirement.
Mr MacGregor’s agent will, however, also furnish panel members with a response to the SAC consultant’s third report before the next meeting.
I didn’t go into this with a llama and a Highland coo. I’ve got 40 Limousins