LASplanning LLP provided planning policy support, through the preparation of a Planning Supporting Statement for a mixed use Holiday and Rural Enterprise development in the Falkirk Council area. The application (P/24/0076/FUL) has been granted planning permission and is a milestone consent for a rural destination in the making. This project has demanded significant cross-organisation working with a wide-ranging project team working tirelessly with the local authority planning officers to reach this positive outcome. The approval enables the applicants’ commitment to the site and ongoing financial investments to now be further progressed and for mutual benefits to arise for the local and visitor economy, in addition to the place.
The proposal was led and project managed by LASplanning LLP, who provided planning justification, supporting information, and coordination of the project teams involved. The application site was a former Gypsy/Traveller site, in part, within land designated as countryside; therefore LASplanning required to regularly liaise with the planning authority and to work closely with an appointed design team to ensure a holistic, place-led outcome for the locale.
The planning application was compiled and submitted in line with the Client’s brief and to ensure compliance with the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Falkirk Local Development Plan (2020).
This development proposal at Birchwood Farm, responded directly to these national and local policy commitments by first, recognising that the site can offer sustainable and high-quality experiences for all visitors and can do so all year round. Further, the proposal now approved, provides the opportunity to increase the diversity and activity onsite – repurposing the location from its former productive use/s to meet modern rural enterprise demands in a sustainable and commercially viable manner. Accordingly the site has the potential to be transformed from the single consented use as a home for Gypsy/Travellers, to a multi- facetted, dynamic location which provides natural and commercial activity integrated into an arguably underutilised part of rural central Scotland.
The redevelopment of Birchwood Farm benefits the public interest in so far as it re-imagines a location that in its currently underutilised removing the potential for rural blight. Instead, the redevelopment now signposts an opportunity for investment and interest through the realisation of sympathetically sited rural holiday accommodation and linked investment in education, enterprise and leisure assets. Similarly, the role of ‘place’ is recognised through the design led vision to repurpose a fallow location into one that offers local or visitor facilities whilst remaining ‘nature-positive’ by ensuring that the site’s unique woodland assets and location are enhanced. This ensures that Birchwood Farm harnesses the site and locales strong and varied biodiversity quality in addition to harnessing built or natural assets.
Following submission of the planning application…
Following submission of the planning application, LASplanning LLP worked with Falkirk Council, to achieve a positive outcome. This included working through issues identified with the submission of further technical information and in agreeing the type and nature of planning conditions. This collaboration enabled the applicant and planning authority to satisfactorily agree place and economic led outcomes in addition to agreeing on suitable planning conditions to safeguard and maximise opportunity from the new uses of the site.
In this regard, renewable energy generation has informed the overall site concept, with solar photovoltaic technologies identified for the chalets and heat pump technologies identified for the larger buildings. The potential well-being benefits of visiting or staying at a peaceful rural location with access to nature and the countryside are also recognised as are measures to support the sustainable travel hierarchy.
Ultimately, proposed land uses are configured via a design-led approach which ensures that the proposed development phases and respective components harness the imaginative character of the area with quality and sustainability at their core.
More Information
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
It is gratefully acknowledged that the positive outcomes achieved at Birchwood Farm were initially informed by early and invaluable inputs by the Alan Seath planning consultant. LASplanning LLP were fortunate to work alongside Alan on this and other projects.