Clackmannanshire Council Online

Orchard Project Takes Root

The Community Orchard is well on the road to becoming reality as councillors this week (Thursday) granted approval for the ambitious regeneration project in South East Alloa.

The Community Orchard will bring a former walled garden back to life with ambitious plans to:

• Restore the glass hothouse
• Plant formal gardens
• Restore the central paths, including developing a water feature at the heart of the garden
• Add a restaurant, workshops, a meeting hall and adventure play area

The Orchard Project has widespread community support and councillors were happy to grant approval to the planning application.

Councillor George Matchett, Vice-Convener of the Regulatory Committee said: "This is an exciting project for South East Alloa. A great deal of work has been done over the past few years developing the plans for the project and encouraging community support and involvement.

"Over three-quarters of the walled garden area will be used for a range of horticultural, leisure and educational purposes. We have high hopes that the initiative will create valuable resources for the local community and help in the regeneration of the area.

"Local people have been very supportive and the project leaders should be very proud to have got to this stage. It is an ambitious scheme and one that will be the making of this part of Alloa."

Several conditions were placed on the site developers on issues like the safety and standard of play equipment, lighting and external finishes.

Dick Clark, Director of the Community Orchard Ltd said: "We are delighted at the approval of our application to transform the Old Alloa House Walled Garden into what will be a major boost to the residents throughout the whole of Clackmannanshire with the direct support of the local community whose involvement has been crucial throughout the consultation period.

"The Orchard Board thank the dedicated staff, volunteers and the various council departments who have, with the full support of all the councillors, been so helpful particularly in the lead up to the approval of today. We look forward to developing the continuing support voiced unanimously at this mornings meeting.

"We will now go forward with our Consultant Partners, Pollock Hammond Architects and Paragon Housing in moving towards the phased construction of a unique and innovative project to the benefit of the County of Clackmannanshire."

ends

For more information contact Mags Cochrane, Communications Unit, tel. 01259 452023.