A PHASED development of around 490 houses at the former Carsebridge Distillery has been agreed in principle at Clackmannanshire Council.

Planning permission in principle (PPP) has been given for the major development, with detailed proposals to be submitted and approved at a later time.

Clackmannanshire Council's Planning Committee met on May 4 to hear about the indicative plans by Advance Construction (Scotland) Ltd.

Part of the development site is the B-listed Carsebridge House as well as Ochil and Harvey houses, currently occupied by Resonate Together.

Elected members sought to make sure there were no outstanding issues around the impact of works, flooding, impact on education and more during the meeting.

Kilncraigs also heard from an objector who was concerned about the traffic the large number of residential buildings could cause at the nearby roundabout.

Regarding traffic, documents for the meeting noted concerns by roads and transportation about the “likely” adverse impact on road capacity.

Planning officers said a transport assessment submitted with the application was revised to address the potential impact on the road network and concluded it “would function within operational capacity and continue to operate satisfactorily”.

It considered the travel behaviour changes caused by Covid-19 and the applicant has agreed to undertake a further assessment on the occupation of the 390th house.

Also, the proposals include a “significant and extensive package of measures focussed on active travel rather than the private car”.

A representative for the developers spoke of the ambitions to regenerate what is a “significant brownfield site”.

The proposal includes land retained for a new primary school, more than seven hectares of “passive” open space and nearly four hectares of active open space, a children's play space, areas for sport while the two buildings occupied by Resonate would be converted for business and learning use.

It also includes deculverting the Brothie Burn within the site “and recreating a naturalised river channel with landscaping and public access”.

While the application is for a mixed use development, it would almost wholly be residential save for the two former distillery office buildings currently occupied by Resonate.

Provost Donald Balsillie, who raised concerns that contribution to healthcare could be strengthened, said: “I think there's a lot to commend in the application – it is a brownfield site.

“It should, hopefully, secure Carsebridge House and indeed, the other two houses on site which are buildings at risk and I know Resonate are working with the developer to try and secure the future of that.”

He added: “I am not saying the development is perfect, I do have concerns about the Firestation Pond.”

It is understood the pond would be lost as part of the development, however, the wetland habitat has been reported as being species-poor.

Regarding the pond, SEPA said in a consultation response: “Whilst the wetland plant communities are species poor, there have been significant losses of ponds across Scotland and NatureScot is currently running a campaign to promote pond creation.

“Therefore, it is disappointing that the applicant has not sought to retain the pond, to make it an amenity benefit for the residents and to improve the condition of the associated wetlands.”