THE future of the community-run Hive in Dollar will be an "absolutely key" issue for major proposals to expand the town.

Planning Committee convener Councillor Donald Balsillie made clear there "needs to a be a dialogue" between planners, the council and the community as he chaired a pre-determination hearing over two proposals to build a combined 500 houses in Dollar.

The almost two-hour meeting on Thursday, October 1, heard submissions for Dollar Community Development Trust and Dollar Community Council as well as the agents representing applicants Dollar Academy and Cowden Farming Company.

However, there was only enough time to hear representations regarding the development which would bring up to 300 houses across Dollarfield West and East as well as at Newfield.

The proposal would also include a sports hall, pitches and running track for the academy, which agents said the community would benefit from – when not in use by the school.

In summing up, Cllr Balsillie said: "Based on the previous conversation, I think we'd have to have an explicit undertaking from the academy as to how access to the sports facilities would work.

"I can certainly see on the other side from the academy that if they are wanting to restrict public access during the school day - that doesn't necessarily align with what the community might wish in terms of full access to leisure facilities."

A wide range of concerns were raised by community representatives at the meeting, including the fact that the two developments combined would increase the size of Dollar by around 40 per cent, "fundamentally" altering the nature and character of the town.

It was also made clear developers would have to contribute towards an expansion of Strathdevon PS and its nursery, as well as the health centre.

However, Cllr George Matchett made clear the school was already "landlocked" and he could not see any other possibility than to relocate it.

The health centre, primary school and The Hive all sit in close proximity next to the academy's existing Newfield sports grounds and concerns have been raised that community facilities might be eroded to accommodate any expansion.

Cllr Balsillie added: "The future of The Hive, the primary school and the health centre in terms of redeveloping that site and its relationship to Newfield is absolutely key.

"So I'd imagine before our planners can make a determination on this application they'll need to see what the options are for the redevelopment of that site and what developer contributions are likely – as well as the footprint desires on the Newfield site.

"There needs to be some sort of dialogue between the planners, developers and community on what that site looks like in terms of the community campus, if I can call it that."

A future pre-determination hearing is to be held to hear more evidence on a second application, which would add between 170 and 190 houses on land south and east of Dollar, before a decision is ultimately made.