A new College Campus for Stirling is another step closer with the Council's Planning Panel agreeing in principle to a new college being built at Kildean near Raploch.

The application, by Forth Valley College, is to develop college campus facilities on the site of the former Riverways Restaurant with parking and associated access from the Drip Road.

Although the development is a departure from the Development Plan, the Planning Panel felt that it is an acceptable use of this brown field site as it will add to the regeneration of Raploch, the campus will create employment opportunities both during and after construction and the two-storey building will be compatible with adjacent housing.

The site of the new college forms part of the larger redevelopment pf the Kildean site, which has been identified for mixed-use development within the Local Plan.

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Chair of Stirling Council’s Planning Panel, Councillor Alasdair MacPherson said: "Approval of this application is an important first step in the development of the new college which will bring tremendous benefits to Stirling and the students who will be using it.

"The next stage in the process will be to consider the design of the building and I am hopeful that this will set a high standard for the development of the remainder of the Kildean area."

The Planning Panel was previously minded to approve an outline planning application for the 36 hectare site, next to the River Forth, last year which proposed a business park, housing, hotel/leisure, restaurant/pub, retail and further education college.

This was subject to a number of conditions being addressed at the detailed planning application stage and subject to the negotiation of a Section 75 Agreement to secure affordable homes, off-site road improvements, pedestrian and cycle improvements and money towards bus routes to the new development.

Agreement was never reached on these contributions and the application has never been approved.

The Planning Panel also discussed the future planning of the remaining Kildean area in light of the college application. The panel agreed to instruct officers to prepare a planning framework for Kildean that will outline the preferred uses and design guidance for the site as a guide to any future applications.

(GK/KMcA)