A PROPOSAL for a new residential development in Alva, which includes the site of the former Ochil Leisure Centre, has been submitted to Clackmannanshire Council.

A planning application has been lodged which seeks permission for 42 homes and associated access road, parking and landscaping on land covering 3.14 acres at Queen Street.

Now derelict, the northern section of the site was formerly part of the old Alva Academy, while the southern was last the sports complex, and is currently owned by the local authority.

If given the go-ahead developer Ogilvie Homes will build a mixture of two bedroom semi-detached, three bedroom semi-detached/detached and four bedroom detached homes.

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: "The council has agreed to sell this land, subject to conditions including planning consent being approved. 

"The land is identified in the Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan for uses including residential development."

The news has been largely welcomed and Sandra Rees – coordinator of the Community Action Plan Steering Group at Alva Community Council – said it will hopefully encourage developers to consider other areas in the town which have been zoned for housing.

However, she also touched upon a long-running dispute with the council over the land which had housed part of the old school.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, the community council had petitioned the local authority about the former area of land.

Some felt that as the Johnstone Park was gifted to the people of Alva for the "common good" of the town in 1882, this policy should also govern the academy site.

Meanwhile, the council has maintained this part of land was sold to the preceding local authority and the common good provision does not apply.

Sandra said: "While it was unfortunate that Alva lost the Ochil Leisure Centre facility, it is gone. 

"That site and the adjacent site of the former Alva Academy is currently an eyesore so in some respects redevelopment is welcome. 

"However there is a large proportion of people in Alva who remember, and have photographic evidence, that part of this land was historically part of the Johnstone Park which was given for the purposes of the former Alva Academy and should be returned to the park. 

"Conversely, there are some who consider that we have two large parks in a picturesque setting and wonder what all the fuss is about."

According to Sandra, the community council has been asked numerous times over the last few years what could be done to ensure "reinstatement of the area of parkland". 

She said: "There has been dialogue with Clackmannanshire Council who sometimes appeared to be obstructive and tardy in their communications. 

"The community council and the wider community lacked resources to take the matter further. 

"However, from the plans it appears that a strip of land approx. 5m, running from Beauclerc Street at the north of the sites to Park Street at the south of the sites, is being returned to the park and landscaping of this is included in the plans.

"The community council will contact the developer via the planning department to discuss the type of landscaping.

"The proposed planning application on the site and adjacent site of the former Alva Academy shows that developers are once again interested in Alva for investment. 

"Hopefully this will spur on developers to consider the other sites that are zoned for housing, for example, Berryfield at the east end of the town and the area at the top of Brook Street/entrance to Alva Glen at the north of the town."