Councillors have granted planning permission for 152 houses to be “crammed” into a Blairgowrie field despite opposition from all three ward councillors and 94 letters of objection.
Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) Planning and Placemaking Committee voted by six votes to four to approve the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, December 11.
Persimmon Homes had reduced the number in their initial application from 171 to 152 homes which council planners deemed acceptable and recommended approval.
At Wednesday’s meeting, several objectors and Blairgowrie and Glens ward councillor Caroline Shiers addressed councillors with their concerns about the development on land 200m West of Blairgowrie and Rattray Cottage Hospital, Perth Road, Blairgowrie.
The 6.5 hectare site forms part of a wider 25-hectare development for which planning permission in principle was granted in December 2018 for a mixed-use development. It will form the third phase.
There will be an access off Dunkeld Road to the housing with a SUDs pond south of the development across the road. Parking will be available in various small parking courts, within plots and on the street.
Objector Mr Huddleston said: “This development will reduce the attractiveness of this area and jeopardise the assets of Blairgowrie as a tourist destination and a biodiversity town.
“A huge mass of houses towering up the slope would ruin the picturesque entranceway to Blairgowrie. Travellers would no longer see Newton Castle from the Dunkeld Road.”
Professor Kirkpatrick – who calculated the site had “32 dwellings per hectare”- argued the density of housing was “excessive”.
He told councillors: “The report states the application site is 6.5 hectares; however this includes the area of land excluded above the 19m contour line and the SUDs pond to the south. The actual developable area on which dwellings are proposed is approximately 4.8 hectares.”
Objector Mr Law raised road safety concerns and Pete Richardson – from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council which also objected – pointed to flood concerns.
Mr Richardson – who is on the flooding resilience team – said: “This is a known flooding area. For Gallowbank development, the proposal amount of properties will certainly be at risk closest to Dunkeld Road. This will lead to additional pressure on the resilience team and will require additional funds.”
Mr Anton highlighted existing pressures on healthcare services and “plans to sink expansive drainage into the root system of Fir Hillock an ancient scheduled monument jeopardising the 4000-year-old site”.
Conservative elected member Caroline Shiers told the committee all three ward councillors opposed the plans. Blairgowrie and Glens councillor Bob Brawn – who sits on the committee – removed himself from the debate due to his position.
Cllr Shiers said: “I understand why the site sits in the local development plan and my objection is not to the development of this site; it’s just the density.
“We as councillors want to develop communities that people can take ownership of and enjoy living in. This site could be developed sympathetically.
“It’s cramming houses into a bit of land. We deserve to do better than that.”
She and others suggested “approximately 65 would sit okay” on the site rather than 152 houses.
Developer Mr Scotland of Persimmon Homes told councillors: “We are very pleased to be presenting our plans this morning for high quality homes at Dunkeld Road which have been carefully considered by your own professional officers, extensively consulted on and are now recommended for approval by the planning officer.
“We are very proud of this development which will support the council’s own objective of enhancing the accessibility and importantly the affordability of homes for families in Perth and Kinross.
“Proposals are for a site that has been allocated for housing and already has planning permission in principle.”
He added: “The proposals recognise the views of local residents. We’ve responded to feedback from the community and the council by reducing the proposed number of homes from 171 to 152, while also recognising the NPF4 requirement to use land efficiently.
“We’ve changed the site layout to increase the spacing between the new and the existing homes and we’ve extended landscaped borders on the site’s boundaries.”
He also pointed to a “detailed drainage strategy that would have a positive impact on the area’s flood resilience”.
Council officers were questioned on the density of housing.
PKC’S Building Standards and Development Management service manager Kristian Smith said: “It’s really important that we have efficient use of land to avoid other greenfield areas being the only way of delivering Perth and Kinross’ housing needs. There is an announced housing emergency in Scotland.
“In terms of housing density, there is no established methodology. In this case, it’s certainly not my view that this is anywhere near high density, that being city centres with multi-storey properties. From my experience, this is low to medium density on the periphery of an established town.”
Independent councillor Dave Cuthbert moved for refusal.
He said: “I’m not against the site being developed. I have big concerns about the existing houses on the southern edge of the site and feel their amenity is going to be seriously affected. I’m also concerned about the look of the site. When you’ve got it built and people in it, it does just become like a giant car park.”
Cllr Ian James seconded.
Convener Ian Massie tabled to approve the plans. This was seconded by Cllr Ken Harvey.
Councillors voted by six votes to four to grant planning permission subject to conditions.