Stirling Council's development control panel has backed United Auctions' application to build a market at Hill of Drip, to the west of its existing facility at Kildean.

The 52-acre site will use the same roundabout off the motorway as the present site, but it will have better access.

One of the stumbling blocks to permission for the £10m development was the requirement to include a clause that the area would be returned to a greenfield site in 50 years.

After successful negotiations that requirement is to be waived, subject to ratification by the full council. The panel has taken the unusual decision of calling a meeting of the full council before the local government elections to ratify the exclusion of the reinstatement clause.

The final stage after that will be to refer the matter to the Scottish Executive.

Speaking after the meeting yesterday, David Leggat, UA's executive chairman, said: "We are delighted with the decision and the fact that there was all-party support for it. This will deliver a market for generations to come."

Another hurdle in the negotiations that had to be overcome was the location of the significant agri-retail element of the development. UA has agreed to site the retail units in the main building.

According to Leggat: "We hope to have the new market up and running by summer next year."