October 19 2020

Alan Dunlop Architects have entered pre-planning discussions with Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Planning Authority to build three larch clad affordable homes at Aberfoyle within the grounds of the practices five acre Slioch studio off Duchray Road.

Incorporating clerestory glazing, hardwood windows and doors and zinc standing seam roofs the four-bedroom properties have been named the Wall House, Bridge House and Tower House. The former will arrange living spaces off a linear gallery, maximising views out to nature and connecting to the Bridge House via landscaped walkways. The Tower House will push up to three floors within a topographical depression.

Dunlop told Urban Realm: "The Aberfoyle area, where my home and studio is based, has been crying out for affordable homes for local people. I have around five acres, set within the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, and have been disappointed by the design quality of the affordable homes set in the Stirling area.

"The project had to meet strict spatial requirements, 113m2 for a 3 bedroom home, which I managed to achieve but also had to be deemed "affordable" to qualify. In November I received a valuation on the three properties from the regional valuation office for this area, which calculated the sale value of the properties, then deducted a percentage to make them 'affordable'.

"There are many infrastructure requirements, new roads, drainage, sewers and so on as well as the construction of the homes and I was in the process of negotiating with two Stirling based building contractors, to confirm that they could be built for the anticipated affordable sale value, and about to make a full planning application before the lockdown began."

A formal planning application is expected shortly.

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 20 Oct 2020 at 08:52 AM

Lovely trees.

#2 Posted by Scottish architect, currently furloughed. on 20 Oct 2020 at 09:43 AM

If Professor Dunlop can make this work, good luck to him. As someone previously experienced in designing similar houses for a large national builder beginning with "C" I cannot see how either house can be brought in to meet affordable rates. Having said that Dunlop's drawings are extraordinary as usual and the three designs look special. So good luck.

#3 Posted by Henry on 20 Oct 2020 at 15:25 PM

Agreed. Beautiful drawings, great looking, ambitious project but can't see how it will stack up. Though it is a much sought after area, so maybe.

#4 Posted by E=mc2 on 21 Oct 2020 at 22:13 PM

Affordable by what measure? Are they for an HA? Rent? Sale?

#5 Posted by aberfoiled on 22 Oct 2020 at 09:55 AM

I'll eat my hat if this stacks up!
Would love to see the figures involved, absolutely agree that the design quality of affordable units in the park isn't great (Did the John Gilbert ones ever get delivered?) but how does this one stack?
Will professor dunlop set himself up as an affordable housing provider and manage the rents? Or will they go for sale with a rural housing burden?
It's a great looking scheme but I've got a feeling that financial reality is going to bite, whether at the build stage or the sales stage.

#6 Posted by Alan Dunlop on 22 Oct 2020 at 12:11 PM

Ha! I once promised to eat my T square if there was anywhere a well designed school procured under PFI or PPP, of course it never came to it. I don't think you'll have to eat your hat either aberfoiled. The homes will be for sale John, the buildings themselves look like stacking up, without too much value engineering, it's the support infrastructure on what are "virgin" sites that is proving challenging. There is the option of adding a fourth home but that would be too much for what is a unique woodland setting.

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