Graham’s The Family Dairy – in partnership with Mactaggart & Mickel Homes – submitted the appeal on the grounds that the decision was based on irrelevant information.
Scottish ministers relied, in full, on the recommendation that to approve the appeal would prejudice the outcome of a Local Development Plan (LDP) examination in the area, they claimed.
However, this recommendation was made in June 2017 and by June 2018, the LDP Examination had concluded. According to Graham’s, the issue of prematurity no longer existed.
Housing shortfall
It also argued that the LDP the Scottish ministers had based their decision on had failed to address a housing shortfall in Stirling, something Graham’s said the development would have fixed.
Robert Graham, Graham’s managing director, claimed the ministers’ decision placed more importance on continuing to protect a failed LDP process than supporting the delivery of much-needed homes, infrastructure and jobs.
The appeal also claimed that the ministers failed to provide proper, adequate and intelligible reasons for their decision.
Mactaggart & Mickel group director Andrew Mickel added: “This proposed development would provide desperately needed affordable homes, together with a wealth of new amenities, including a new primary school, publicly accessible parkland and a local neighbourhood centre.
‘Short-sightedness’
“Stirlingshire is in the midst of a housing shortfall and it is very disappointing that the Government’s apparent short-sightedness is failing to see the bigger investment and growth picture that could bring real improvements for the future.”
Graham’s revealed its plans for the new dairy centre and housing development in September last year. The project would have created 400 new jobs, a 50-person apprenticeship scheme and a further 350 jobs in the construction phase.
Speaking at the time, MD Robert Graham said the development represented the largest single investment in the Scottish dairy sector in more than 30 years.
“It is a massive commitment and we are hopeful that the Scottish government recognises the part it would play in mobilising Scotland’s wider prosperity,” said Graham
