Park of Keir housing and tennis development approved by ministers

Backed by Judy Murray, the £37.5 million development on land between Bridge of Allan and Dunblane will feature 12 tennis courts and a golf academy. It also includes the creation of a hotel, multi-user sports pitch, museum, visitor centre and 19 houses.

The application for planning permission in principle was made to Stirling Council in July 2014. The tennis and golf facility would include six indoor and six outdoor tennis courts; a short golf course with 6 holes, a golf practice range, putting areas, coaching bays and changing facilities; multisport artificial grass courts; tennis museum and a café/restaurant with viewing gallery. The tennis/golf centre would comprise two connected buildings with a maximum ridge height of 7.7 metres. The outdoor leisure activities would include a children’s outdoor adventure park with picnic areas; a general multi-purpose all weather (3G) pitch suitable for football and other sports; and additional footpaths to open up the area to walkers and cyclists.

A four star, 150 bedroom hotel is proposed, including conference facilities, gym and spa, which would be three storeys high with a maximum ridge height of 12 metres.

Amended proposals, submitted in June 2015, proposed to reserve a large part of the site (40 hectares) to establish a new country park. The revised proposals also include 19 houses in two areas (reduced from the 100 houses originally proposed).

Stirling Council rejected the proposal in December 2015 amid fears the development could have a “significant detrimental impact” on a “sensitive landscape”. There was also a worry that the homes could “exacerbate affordability in the local area”.

The planning decision was then referred to Scottish ministers following an appeal by lawyers and consultants acting for Park of Keir Partnership.

Following a Scottish Government reporter’s inspection of the site in 2017, ministers said they “are minded to grant planning permission in principle” subject to conditions, including a requirement that the residential development should not be occupied until the tennis and golf centre has been built and is available for use and the satisfactory conclusion of a Section 75 planning obligation.

The section 75 planning obligation was to commit the developer to making contributions to affordable housing and education provision in the area, in line with the council’s supplementary guidance; to establish that no further residential development will be undertaken on the site; and to set out arrangements to ensure that the sports facilities are accessible to the general public and with a pricing structure that ensures the facilities are affordable.

Years of negotiations followed until that agreement was signed this summer following a number of extensions.

Councillors were told of the Scottish Government’s decision to give the development the go-ahead yesterday.

The Scottish Ministers’ decision letter said that the benefits of Park of Keir Partners plan were “sufficient to outweigh the loss of greenbelt at this location”. They added that the tennis and golf centre would “provide facilities for the community”.

The Scottish Government decision notice states: “Scottish Ministers conclude that the Park of Keir development is of regional and national significance for Scottish sport.

“The proposed tennis and golf centre in particular would make an important contribution to the aim of increasing participation in both sports while also providing facilities for the community.

“There will also be economic benefits, both to the local area and more widely.

“Scottish Ministers also conclude that the enabling housing development is required to cross fund the tennis and golf centre to ensure that the sports facilities are accessible to the general public with an affordable pay structure.”

Responding to the approval, Judy Murray said: “We are thrilled that after a long and important planning process, we are being given the opportunity to create an exciting community sport and leisure facility near Dunblane.

“We passionately believe that what we will create will not only serve as a legacy to the achievements of Jamie and Andy but will be an important community asset that allows people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy for generations to come.

“We look forward to bringing our plans to life and sharing those as soon as possible.”

Dunblane Community Council, which opposed the development, said it was “very disappointed” to learn Scottish ministers had granted permission for the Park of Keir development.

“It is a decision which ignores widespread local concerns and makes a mockery of the planning process”, it said in a Twitter post.

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “Stirling Council acknowledges that the Scottish Ministers have approved the application.”