OFFICIALS behind a proposed large-scale development in Dollar are keen to address community concerns before their application is officially lodged.

Plans for around 350 new homes in the town are being drafted, though agents of some of landowners involved say they will seek input from residents as the project continues.

The commitment comes after Dollar Community Council penned an open letter last week, saying the “community at large” are concerned over ideas to expand the town with hundreds of houses, property for business use, sports facilities and an open space toward the south.

Signed by community vice chair and Planning Group convener Mick Rice, the letter came after public consultation events showed the plans off earlier this month.

While the community council does not exactly outline what the concerns are, it has asked for a face-to-face meeting to discuss all the points and to be "re-assured that the community’s wishes are being given due consideration”.

The Advertiser can reveal that talks could take place as early as this week, with agents keen to address issues before an application is officially lodged with Clackmannanshire Council.

The consultation event earlier this month was organised by agents on behalf of Dollarfield/Cowden Farming Co. and the trustees of Dollar Academy, who are believed to be two of three landowners involved.

A further event, organised by Harviestoun Estates, is set to take place at the Burnside Hall on September 22.

Robin Matthew, planning consultant for Cowden Farming Co., told the Advertiser on Monday: “We would absolutely welcome a meeting with the community council and we are actually in the process of organising that now, for this week, to actually talk to the community council about their concerns."

He added a range of pre-planning events have already taken place, both with the community council directly as well as with the wider community.

Robin hopes to keep channels of communication open, chiefly through the community council, but with concerned individuals as well.

The letter from the community council, which was sent to developers and local representatives, said: “The information that has been presented to us up to now does not reassure us in any way that the community needs and wishes are being addressed.

“Any development on this scale in the town will affect everything and everybody in it and before we can comment and buy in to this growth we need to be assured that the community’s wishes will be taken into account.

“We would like to talk, face to face...and point out our concerns and be re-assured that the community’s wishes are being given due consideration.

“Dollar residents will have to live with the legacy of this development and it needs to be sensitive to community needs and reflect local concerns.”

An official application has not yet been lodged with Clackmannanshire Council.

As part of any planning process, interested parties are given the chance to lodge their objections or expressions of support.

These are collated and presented to the local authority’s Planning Committee, which ultimately decides whether a development can go ahead or not and whether any additional conditions should be attached.

In some instances, representatives from the developers, as well as from among the objectors are invited to present their case directly in the council chambers.