April 8 2021

A car-centric edge of town retail park at Cookbridge, Stirling, comprising a mix of drive-through restaurants, a vehicle showroom, shops and a gym is on the cards with permission in principle being sought for the mixed-use development.

Accessible from the A905 the project has been brought forward by Yeoman McAllister Architects on behalf of Ramoyle Developments on agricultural grazing land currently owned by Stirling Development Agency.

Stressing the need for a broad accommodation mix beyond bulky household goods (as specified in the local development plan) the applicants wrote: "... assessments show that the proposed development will not harm the vitality and viability of other Network Centres and that there are no sequentially preferable sites which can accommodate the development.

"Moreover, there is clearly no demand in Stirling for additional retail premises to accommodate bulky goods sales. Springkerse Retail Park (phases 1 and 2) which offer this type of retail have never been fully let in over 20 years demonstrating an existing over provision of bulky goods shopping in the city."

Planting, street furniture and surfaces will be overseen by VLM landscape design.

12 Comments

#1 Posted by MrRetrofit on 8 Apr 2021 at 08:56 AM

Isn't this how they kill towns centres...

#2 Posted by Fush And Chups on 8 Apr 2021 at 09:10 AM

#1 Amen.

Out of town retail kills the town that it is meant to serve. So many examples of this throughout the English speaking world.

This, and developments like it, need a rethink if we are to ever achieve the vibrant, bustling town centres our ancestors once enjoyed.

#3 Posted by Hamish Ashcroft on 8 Apr 2021 at 10:07 AM

The Scottish government really talk the talk about reducing car use, sustainable development, 15 minute communities etc but when it comes down to the bread and butter of development, this utter mince gets built along with 5000 identical suburban sprawl terrible quality persimmon etc homes, which achieve nothing apart from give the company’s CEO a fat bonus

#4 Posted by Fair Trade Charlie on 8 Apr 2021 at 10:33 AM

Not optimistic that the news Stirling Council declared a climate emergency on 3rd October 2019 will reach Stirling Council's planning department sometime soon.

#5 Posted by monkey9000 on 8 Apr 2021 at 11:59 AM

Dear oh dear! The 1990's called, they want their masterplan back!

#6 Posted by Chris on 8 Apr 2021 at 12:21 PM

There's loads of availability within The Thistles for retailers in the City Centre. Can't imagine the owners won't have objected to Ramoyle's proposals for Open Class 1 retail consent. And why doesn't this proposal link up coherently with the existing phases at Springkerse? Looks a bit odd sitting with it's back turned to the rest of the retail warehousing

#7 Posted by HMR on 8 Apr 2021 at 12:37 PM

Car-centric - incredible have they actually woken to the fact the climate emergency has reached the borders of Stirling.

Not to mention the impact on the sustainablity of the high street

#8 Posted by Stuart on 8 Apr 2021 at 13:39 PM

UNBELIEVABLE!! Wake up people.

#9 Posted by Mon the feet on 8 Apr 2021 at 21:00 PM

You simply cannot get your car anywhere near the shop units in the thistle centre. Walking is such a chore..

#10 Posted by Roddy_ on 8 Apr 2021 at 21:04 PM

Amused to see in the Design and Access Statement that 'Designing Streets' is cited as guidance that has been consulted. Perhaps worth noting that pg20 of that document specifically proscribes developments of this nature. Glasgow seem to have no scruples over the recently opened Gorbals Retail Park or the Glasgow Harbour Lifestyle Outlet. It will be interesting to see if Stirling is brave enough to knock this back.

#11 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 9 Apr 2021 at 13:25 PM

If M&S is one of the candidates for this new development then Stirling is now fully down the road pioneered by Rugby.

All that will be left in the centre will be the banks and the hairdressers.

Unbelievable that this development is being pushed by the council -- they have jumped the shark with this nonsense.

#12 Posted by Dave H on 10 Apr 2021 at 09:59 AM

Maybe a word with INTU might persuade them - Braehead died

Accessible from A 905 - grief what an oxymoron!...

Plus with the massive flood plain issues, the creation of a vast expanse of hard pavement - only used for a limited time as well, & not even on a main bus corridor - let alone close to a rail station....

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