Kippendavie Group Trust, which manages the Kippendavie Estate, had proposed to build the homes at land east of Kellie Wynd, Leighton Avenue and Leighton Court off Robertson Road.

The plans included self-build and custom build homes and affordable housing, and a neighbourhood community hub.

The application was rejected by Stirling Council in March last year.

In his decision, DPEA reporter Christopher Warren said: “The proposed development does not accord overall with the relevant provisions of the development plan and that there are no material considerations which would still justify granting planning permission.”

Mr Warren said the development would make a “modest but valuable” contribution to the availability of affordable housing but that it was unclear whether self-build or custom-build opportunities could be fairly described as addressing an “identified gap” in housing provision.

On a 2022 survey conducted by the developer, with 265 respondents, the reporter said the questions posed offered “little insight” into housing needs and its finding that 99% of those looking for a new home would ‘like’ to build their own home was not surprising but did not mean this would be a “realistic proposition, financially viable, an appropriate and/or only means by which respondents” housing needs could be satisfied.