Press Releases

Decides on Extension To Auction Mart

Tuesday, 16th March, 2010

Stirling Council has given planning permission in principle for a new development at Stirling's Agricultural Centre, subject to the successful negotiation of a Section 75 Legal Agreement to ensure the proposed uses have a relationship to agriculture.

The application was referred to the Council at the request of the Planning Panel for determination due to the size of the proposed development in the countryside.  

The new planning application by Elphinstone Land Ltd is for a mixed-use development incorporating Classes 4, 5, 6 and agricultural machinery and vehicle sales.  The site comprises 2.368 hectares of existing agricultural fields at Stirling Agricultural Centre, adjacent to the A84, approximately two miles northwest of Stirling City centre.  The site is bounded by the access road to the agricultural market, the A84 and the roundabout, with car parking serving the market to the northwest.  

Stirling Council Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Economy, Tourism & Finance Councillor Scott Farmer said. " I welcome the decision for the proposed extension to the Mart site with conditions to ensure that any additional operations are strictly agricultural related through a binding Legal Agreement. The original proposal always envisaged the development to be far more than just an Auction Mart but a fully integrated state of the art Agricultural facility that would be of benefit not just to rural Stirling's economy but that of greater Scotland. This proposal will ensure that Stirling is at the very heart of Scottish Agriculture in what will be a centre of excellence for the industry as a whole.”

Previously Stirling’s Livestock Auction Mart and associated facilities was given planning permission at the special meeting of the full Council in 2007. The Council agreed that a Section 75 Agreement covering the restriction on the type of goods and amount of retail area and restrictions on the overall use of the development would be imposed.  

The character of the land, where the development is proposed, west of Drip Bridge has changed over the last few years with the building of the new Agricultural Market and Dobbies Garden Centre.