Stirling Council's Planning Panel has agreed in principal to a new house being built in the countryside to accommodate a local farm worker.

The panel, chaired by Councillor Alasdair MacPherson, unanimously agreed to grant outline planning permission to Mr & Mrs Christie to build a house on land away from the existing steading at Newpark Farm.

The house would be built 120 metres north of Sevenairs off Polmaise Road on fields overlooking the valley.

The applicant had stated that the new house is needed in connection with the agricultural enterprises of the farm; sheep farming, cropping and contracting activities on and from the farm.

The applicant had also stressed that dogs and people have been worrying the sheep in the fields where the house is to be built.

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The planning application was first brought to the planning panel on September 17, 2009 but was deferred for a site visit.

It was called to the planning panel at the request of local Councillor Scott Farmer because he felt "the future viability of this agricultural concern is at stake."

Planning officers had recommended the application be refused, as there was no justification for an additional house due to the size of the farming operation.

The main planning issues the panel had to consider was whether the new house is justified in association with agriculture, horticulture, forestry or an established rural business and whether the site chosen would have an adverse impact on the environment.

The panel felt that, due to the nature of the farming operation it required more than one worker and the fact that some of the fields were split by the motorway, the presence of a house in the area would assist with the welfare of the animals.

Planning panel member Councillor Farmer said: "Its important to note that the location of this house is not for aesthetics but for business reasons. In terms of the Scottish Agricultural College’s animal welfare regulations they require that the animals are inspected daily and for one person to do that while living away from the farm and also carry out contracting and livery work would I think be unrealistic. In these difficult economic times we should be doing everything we can to help support local farming and the agriculture industry."

(GK/KMcA)