In August 2024, our President wrote to Stirling Council to express our concern at the decision taken by the council to recommend approval to build a horse harness racing track with associated infrastructure, services and landscaping to accommodate competitors and up to two hundred spectators on the Bannockburn Battlefield.

You can read her letter in full here: SoAoS Letter to Scottish Ministers regarding Bannockburn

On the 21 August 2024 Scottish Ministers called in this planning proposal as requested and appointed a reporter to consider the case and provide advice: Scottish Government – DPEA – Case Details (scotland.gov.uk)

You can read the response letter to the Society from Scottish Government in full here: Response-202400429378

On 2 June 2025 Scottish Ministers published their decision to refuse planning permission contrary to the reporter’s advice (see case details link above). Ministers considered that the development “would have a significant adverse effect on the character of the battlefield, its setting and sense of place…” and “…would detract from the prominence of the listed buildings and would consequently have a detrimental impact on their special character and their setting…”; it also “..would not preserve either the character or the special architectural or historic interest of the Rotunda and flagpole” In essence the provisions for heritage protection written into the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) have protected the battlefield.