THE redevelopment of a former hotel in the Wee County has been scaled back, following parking worries.
Under revised plans, only 11 units are being drawn up for the former Alva Glen Hotel site, almost a year after developers were warned 16 off-street parking spaces will not be enough for a block of 24 flats.
As the Advertiser reported at the start of 2016, the plans for Stirling Street attracted a number of objections from local residents; and comments from Clackmannanshire Council's Roads & Transportation section, saying twice as many parking spaces were required on-site.
However, the redevelopment of the site where the old hotel was demolished in 2014 is now taking steps forward with agents Bracewell Stirling lodging a new application last month.
Getting the stamp of approval from Roads & Transportation, the proposed development would include 14 off-street parking spaces.
While responding officer Stuart Cullen said he would have no objections in principle, his comments added: “The internal layout of parking and the vehicular aisle from Brook Street will not be suitable for adoption.
“Ordinarily, my section would not accept such a private access arrangement to serve new house units.
“However, it is noted that all units will afford direct pedestrian access on to an adopted, or potentially adoptable, footway surface and as such, I am prepared to accept this arrangement.”
The officer continued: “The lack of proposed on-street parking fronting the site is a concern given all units will front the public roads on all three sides.
“However, given such a provision would substantially affect the viability of development on such a small site, the current proposals appear to be at a more appropriate scale compared to previous proposals and given Brook Street and East Stirling Street afford parking restrictions, the likelihood of problematic on-street parking, especially on these roads, is reduced.”
If it gets the go-ahead, it is understood builders Gean Developments will be creating low-cost, affordable housing for the area – each unit has two floors and two bedrooms with garden space allocated within the courtyard.