Scotland’s largest independent dairy firm – Graham’s Family Dairy – has submitted a planning application for a new £20million dairy in Stirling.
The Bridge of Allan-based firm has teamed up with housing developer Mactaggart & Mickel Homes to submit planning for the Airthrey Green development.
Plans for the development include a public park, primary school, improved local road network, 600 houses, retail and leisure centre and the new dairy facility.
The dairy’s managing director Robert Graham said: “Airthrey Green is a deliverable project which not only meets a shortfall in housing land requirements in the Stirling area, but enables the delivery of a purpose built dairy and new product development facility in Stirling.”
He said the new dairy would include a new product development research facility, creating 450 new jobs in addition to the firm’s existing workforce of 400 people.
“This would be in addition to our current headquarters at Airthrey Kerse in Bridge of Allan, as part of a single site investment programme,” added Mr Graham.
“The alternative were Airthrey Green not to come forward is to continue a multi-site investment programme across our Scottish property which would invevitably be at the expense of Stirling.”
He added that the new facility strengthen the dairy firm, which requires continual investment to respond to market opportunities and commercial pressures.