Stirling Council's Planning Panel has given permission for a new hotel and leisure complex in Stirling's historic old town.

The Panel welcomed the application by Glenbervie House Hotel Ltd, to change and convert the existing building on the site of the former Forth Valley Health Board Offices on Spittal Street, Stirling to form a hotel with extension and the demolition of the former nurse's house to form a new swimming pool and gym. The panel felt that the hotel would bring more economic benefits to the area and was the best re-use of the existing historic building.

The Panel heard that the development meets Local Plan and Planning Policies, which support tourism developments within the old town and lies in an area visited by many tourists throughout the year. The development will also not adversely impact on surrounding buildings or on the heritage of the area.


Chair of the Planning Panel Councillor Alasdair MacPherson said: "This new hotel is a good example of how a historic building can be sensitively redeveloped. The hotel is a very welcome addition to the city and will provide jobs for local people both during the construction phase and when the hotel is open for business."

The existing building is suitable for internal conversion as its character or appearance will not be compromised. The leisure facility at the back of the development will be built away from the Stirling Town Wall, which is an Ancient Monument and Category A Listed Building.

Panel members instructed Officers to investigate the ownership and responsibility for the protection of the town wall.

Councillor MacPherson insisted that the west extension roof should be finished in lead instead of a modern substitute so that the building is kept in keeping with the surrounding buildings within this Outstanding Conservation Area.

As the development adjoins the former site of Stirling's Medieval Franciscan Friary a condition of the planning consent is that the site is subject to an Archaeological Watching Brief. This is to protect possible discoveries such as the Roman remains and pottery, which were uncovered in 1827 during the digging of the foundations for the original Commercial Bank of Scotland building.

(GK/JM)