MAJOR housing plans which are said to be "incredibly unpopular" in Dollar have been updated, drawing further objections.

Proposals to expand the town using land to the south first saw the light of day in 2018, when Dollar Community Council penned an open letter to say the "community at large" was concerned.

There are issues surrounding the scale of the development, which proposes hundreds of new homes, commercial areas, additional sports facilities for Dollar Academy and landscaping across a 22.3hectare site, split into three areas.

Previously, landowners associated with the application for planning permission in principle (PPP) committed to community engagement in a bid to address concerns.

Last week, a revised masterplan and design and access statement were submitted to Clackmannanshire Council along with a transport addendum note.

The design and access statement said the development looked to create a "sustainable new neighbourhood", "which respects and helps reinforce the town's existing and historic urban pattern" as well as the landscape and environment.

It also added there would be a "brand new urban park available to use by the whole Dollar community" and highlighted how it will "fully integrate and encourage active travel opportunities" with a chance to enhance existing public transport.

According to the statement, the plans would also help slow traffic down on Devon Road and within the town at Bridge Street junctions "by means of site design and layout as well as appropriate local traffic calming measures".

There is also a focus on integrating renewable energy technologies.

However, there still appear to be significant concerns locally and the plans have drawn more than 170 objections since 2018.

Such was the volume of responses, at one point the local authority issued a notice to say there was a delay in registering each due to the "overwhelming number".

A recent objection from last week said: "This development is going to place increased stress in already stretched thin infrastructure.

"There is not enough car parking, space in the schools, space in the local healthcare centre, shops or jobs to support the population increase this development would signify."

And added: "It is an incredibly unpopular plan in the town and would take away our beautiful fields that many including myself believe should be preserved.

"These houses are not affordable either, Dollar does not need more expensive housing, it needs something affordable for young families and couples to buy! I fully object to this development."

In terms of affordability, the design statement claims "a range and choice of housing types and tenures to meet all housing requirements including family, first time buyer and starter units and affordable housing units as part of a fully integrated layout and design".

Members of the public can view and comment on the application by using the the reference number 18/00283/PPP on the council's planning portal.