Protesters angry about planning proposals for hundreds of new houses in Scone have demonstrated outside Perth and Kinross City Chambers.
A controversial “masterplan” for a new Scone neighbourhood has been handed to the council by Perth builders A&J Stephen.
The developers have submitted a planning in principle application relating to infrastructure, access, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage systems and open space on land at north Scone.
Scone and District Community Council voiced their anger against the proposals, and said the plans went against residents’ wishes.
Community council member Dr Jill Belch said: “We are concerned about the pollution the additional housing planned for Scone will cause, as a result of the additional congestion.
“Pollution levels in Scone and Bridgend are above EU legal limits at the moment, and this would only get worse if the developments are approved.
“We cannot understand why the council would wish to make this worse. There are more deaths caused by pollution each year than there are by road traffic accidents.
“Deaths as a result of air pollution will increase in the area if these houses are allowed to be built before the bridge is.
“We are not asking for anything to be blocked or stopped for all time, we are just asking that housing development be delayed for the sake of people’s health until the bridge is complete.”
The community council said two resident surveys had been conducted, both of which returned a rejection of the housing proposals.
Plans to build up to 700 new different types of houses meet the requirements of Perth and Kinross Council’s local development plan, according to A&J Stephen, with 25% of those being built being to be made “affordable”.
John Stephen, managing director of A&J Stephen, said: “Our vision is not only to help address what is both a national and local shortfall in housing but to create a high quality and desirable neighbourhood with a strong sense of community.
“Underpinned by high quality design, we have created a plan which provides accessible housing within an attractive landscape setting, open spaces, footpaths and streets, shaping a safe, pleasant and welcoming place which residents can be proud to call home.
“We are excited to have reached this stage in the process and are grateful to the local community for their engagement throughout. We have a long and successful association with Scone having delivered new homes within the village in each of the last seven decades with over 40% of the households in Scone living in a Stephen home.
“Our long association with Scone has not only shaped the village but helped it become one of the most desirable locations to live in Perthshire and we believe this new neighbourhood will further contribute to this success.”
If planning permission is approved, A&J Stephen said they would hope to begin construction by the end of next year.
