Developers launch appeal for controversial Thornhill retail and housing plans

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Developers hoping to build a major new retail and housing development in Thornhill, which has already attracted a host of objections, have lodged an appeal to the Scottish Government.Inverdunning (Thornhill) Ltd, in conjunction with JCC, the owner of the existing agricultural business on the application site, had submitted an application to Stirling Council planners for permission in principle for their project.They want to use land north west of Burnside Works in Main Street for employment, retail and residential use, including affordable housing.Residential land on the northern part of site is expected to have scope for around 70 new homes.However, they have now appealed to the DPEA (Scottish Government planning division), on the basis of non-determination after the council failed to meet a decision deadline.Council planners said this week the local authority election held up a decision on the proposal, an application for which was officially recorded on December 6 last year, and the developers were within their rights to refuse an extension to the timescale.They said: “The application was considered significantly contrary to the Stirling Local Development Plan 2018 and therefore required determination by pre-determination hearing (PDH) and full council.“A planning processing agreement (PPA) was in place until 30 April 2022.“Due to the local government election, to provide time for an administration to be formed and time for the required PDH/full council procedures, officers sought to agree an extension to the PPA to allow determination no later than 29 July 2022.“The applicant declined to extend [the PPA].