Planning permission has been granted for two more short-term lets in Pitlochry.
A local SNP councillor said Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) recent decision to reject creating a short-term let control area in Highland Perthshire had reduced the council’s powers.
On Wednesday, November 13 councillors approved plans for two holiday units to be developed in a town which has a shortage of affordable permanent accommodation.
Bailie Mike Williamson – who represents the Highland Perthshire ward – voted for approval.
The SNP councillor said: “It’s a real shame that elected members voted to reject the proposal to put in a control zone in Highland Perthshire and that leads us to where we are at present. I think it would have given officers greater powers to manage the number of short-term lets within tourist areas but unfortunately we are where we are.”
In August 2024, SNP and Labour councillors on PKC’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee voted in favour of forming a short-term let control zone in Highland Perthshire and North Eastern Perthshire. They were outvoted – by eight votes to seven – by Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors who voted to reject the proposal.
On Wednesday, PKC’s Planning and Placemaking Committee was recommended by council officers to approve plans for the historic Lagreach Cottage to be transformed into a one-bedroomed accommodation unit and a two-bedroomed unit. The 19th century stone cottage is accessed by a lane just off Atholl Road on the western edge of the town. It has lain empty for the past five years. Prior to that, it was used as staff accommodation for a local hotel for 15 years.
There were nine objections to the plans. Concerns raised by objectors included an “overpopulation of holiday lets and lack of long term accommodation” as well as fears of partying, noise, rubbish and loss of privacy.
In their supporting statement the applicants argued the property was “not fit for habitation in its current state” and required heavy investment on top of the substantial sum paid for the property. Lagreach was on the market for offers over £450,000.
Independent councillor Dave Cuthbert tabled a proposal to approve the application but remove the condition for it to be used “solely for holiday accommodation”. This was seconded by Cllr Bob Brawn.
PKC’s Development Management and Building Standards manager Kristian Smith told councillors even if the condition was removed “it would require planning permission to revert back to residential use in any case”.
Cllr Ken Harvey proposed simply approving the application. This was seconded by Bailie Claire McLaren.
Voting to approve the plans as recommended, Cllr Richard Watters said: “I don’t see what the motion is trying to achieve given that any individual will still have to get planning [permission] to turn it into a residential house which I am not against in the slightest. But having clear clarity in the process is important and I think it just confuses things.”
Cllr Cuthbert countered that “the law may change that you can let the short-term let lapse and it no longer becomes an issue”.
He added: “Having the condition means they have to apply to convert to residential units and I think – given the shortage of residential units in the area – we should make that as easy as possible.”
Councillors voted to approve the application – subject to the conditions outlined in the officers’ report – by six votes to four.