Perth care home bosses want to upgrade a balcony to make it appear less “prison-like” for residents.
Barchester Healthcare is seeking planning permission for its Ochil Care Home on Ettrick Drive, near Broxden.
A statement submitted along with the application explains the balcony is surrounded by metal posts and wire at present.
And this runs the risk of the occupants feeling more like inmates.
“This provides minimal shelter to the elderly residents,” it says.
“And it has been suggested that it could be perceived as almost prison-like due to the
guarding.”
Barchester wants to erect a new stainless steel balustrade featuring toughened safety glass in place of the existing structure.
“This proposal should make the area feel more welcoming and more sheltered to residents,” the statement adds.
5 homes at former Spittalfield bus depot blocked
Council chiefs have knocked back plans for five new homes at Spittalfield.
They say the former bus depot site to the east of the village is set aside for a small mixed development, including employment uses, in the Local Development Plan.
But the application they received was solely for housing, and only related to one section of the land.
The council acknowledges there has been no progress on creating a mixed-use development on the vacant site for 20 years.
But land use aside, planners say the five large detached homes themselves were not up to scratch.
Outlining the reasons for refusal, they write: “The proposal is poorly designed and the design and density does not respect the character and amenity of the place or create and improve links to the surrounding area.”
Community pavilion meeting point in Ardler
Ardler residents could soon have a green-roofed community pavilion in the heart of their village.
The Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust is seeking planning permission for a 6x8m structure on the village green.
They say it could provide a sheltered, paved space for gatherings and events.
And its “living roof” will ensure local nature is provided for as well.
Designs submitted to Perth and Kinross Council show a timber structure holding up a metal clad green roof.
Coupar Angus horse livery owner’s house blocked
Planners have refused permission for a house and static caravan on a smallholding outside Burrelton.
Helen Gray runs a horse livery business, as well as a herd of goats and sheep at 1 Kinnochty Holdings to the southeast of the village.
There used to be a house attached to the 18-acre site.
But it was split off and sold separately before Ms Hay bought the land in May 2024.
A statement submitted with her application explains: “The applicant is now keen to re-establish a dwelling house on the smallholding to enable them to continue running the business efficiently and sustainably.”
The plan had been to remove a caravan that’s already on-site once the house was built.
But planners refused permission for both, saying there’s no essential need for a worker to live there permanently.
‘Accident waiting to happen’ warning over roads to Braco substation
Electricity bosses want to build a new substation near Braco to accommodate upgrades to the Beauly to Denny power line.
SSEN Transmission is seeking planning permission for a site at Feddal Hill, just outside the village.
The proposed Cambushinnie 400 kV substation would be close to the existing one at Braco West.
There are more than 130 documents associated with the application on Perth and Kinross Council’s planning portal.
They include a number of objections from residents.
Critics are calling on the council to make sure a proposed new “haul road” to the site is finished before work starts on the substation.
One warns that forcing construction vehicles onto the narrow roads around Braco is “a severe accident waiting to happen”.
Here are the links to the planning/appeal papers for the Perth and Kinross applications
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