A legal agreement between council bosses and the firm behind a 1,300 homes application for the outskirts of Perth has been hailed as a “major milestone” for the controversial housing plan.
Developers for the Almond Valley village proposal have welcomed progress on the scheme, which would also see a primary school and leisure facilities built on land between Huntingtowerfield and Ruthvenfield.
It follows a successful appeal to the Scottish Government, which overturned a decision by Perth and Kinross Council to reject an application for the site for the third time.
However, full planning consent from the local authority will still be required before the proposal can go ahead.
The conclusion of the 650-page legal agreement is the latest step in a convoluted, long-running planning process which has now been in the pipeline for more than 20 years.
Almond Valley’s chequered history has already involved a public inquiry, a Court of Session hearing and rejection by Perth and Kinross Council in 2004 and 2011.
The local authority removed the proposal from the local development plan in January 2012, only for the Scottish Government to rule that it should be incorporated into the adopted local plan in October 2013.
However, the scheme was rejected for a third time by the council in May 2016.
Developers the Pilkington Trust have now made a successful appeal to the Scottish Government, paving the way for the new legal agreement.
Upholding the appeal, Allison Coard, the Scottish Government Reporter, said it was in accordance with the development plan.
“From my assessment of the indicative master plan and the proposed layout, I consider it includes substantial green corridors and areas of green space,” she said in a document lodged with the Scottish Government’s planning and environmental appeals division.
“The proposed densities of housing do not appear unusual in an urban edge location. The master plan identifies 21 phases of development defined by landscaping and buffers to reduce any impact on established housing or commercial areas.
“Taking all this into account, I can see no reason why an appropriate layout and design, to secure a sustainable new community and the amenity of both existing and new residents, can’t be secured.”
Speaking on behalf of the Pilkington Trust, Alastair Wood, Savills head of planning in Scotland, said the legal agreement with the council marked a “major milestone” for Almond Valley.
“This decision marks another major milestone in bringing forward a new neighbourhood at Almond Valley, in accordance with the council’s adopted local development plan,” he said.
“This is part of a long-held strategy to deliver housing and business growth to the north west of Perth city centre.”
He continued: “We will be consulting with the local community and the council to bring forward design plans for Almond Valley, which respect the existing landscape and the context of the site.
“We will be providing a high quality mix of housing, including much needed affordable homes, as well as improved schools, sport and community facilities and public transport connectivity.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed a section 75 agreement had been signed off for the ‘in principle’ planning permission for the overall development.
