By Eric Nicholson

WATERED-DOWN proposals for a major development at Errol airfield overcame their first significant hurdle yesterday when councillors gave them strong backing.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee voted by 10 votes to two to indicate they were “minded to approve” outline plans for the ambitious project, subject to a raft of conditions coming back to committee.

The applicant, the Morris Leslie Group, was originally seeking consent for a sustainable village comprising a mixed-use development of 360 mainstream houses and 100 affordable houses, with industrial starter units, workshops/warehouses and offices.

Local councillor Dr John Hulbert recommended that housing numbers be cut to 240, of which 25% would be affordable, which was comfortably voted through.

The company insists jobs will be brought to the area and will cement its wish to site its own national headquarters there.

Outlining his reasons for giving the plans the go-ahead, Dr Hulbert said, “The Carse is desperately short of affordable houses.

“Since I became a councillor over 200 houses have been built in St Madoes, 150 houses are presently under construction in Errol, 260 in Inchture, nearly 100 in Longforgan and 100 in Grange—and not a single affordable house in any of them.”

Dr Hulbert believes the creation of industrial land will bring a significant number of new jobs in addition to the 225 already at Errol Airfield.

As for Morris Leslie rooting itself in the area, he pointed out, “Perthshire needs to attract and retain the headquarters of companies such as the Morris Leslie Group.

“Better still, we want to grow our own. A look at its website will show that the Morris Leslie Group is a young but rapidly-expanding company with interests all across the UK.

“At present, its HQ functions are based in a variety of buildings in Errol and Scone. An HQ and training centre in Errol would anchor the company in Perthshire.”

The development will bring an end to the Errol car boot sale and the company has pledged £200,000 to the Errol community hall fund.

The council’s head of development standards, Ian Sleith, had recommended refusal on the grounds the housing is contrary to the area’s development plan.

He was supported by councillors Mike Barnacle and Willie Wilson, who proposed and seconded refusal of the plans.

Mr Barnacle said, “It is with reluctance that I speak against it.

“I think this is the kind of application that should have been brought forward under the structure and local plan process.

“It concerns me that we are effectively sanctioning a major development outwith that process.”

Mr Wilson added, “This drives a coach and horses through the structure and local plans and would create an alarming precedent.”

The plans will have to go before the Scottish Executive and Mr Sleith said, “We may well be looking at a public inquiry.”