A council chief is asking elected members to approve a controversial plan for 1,500 homes despite more than 80 objections being lodged.
Nick Brian, Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager, has compiled a mainly positive report on the Almond Valley Village proposal, which if passed would see the large housing scheme built on land located between Huntingtowerfield and Ruthvenfield, along with a primary school and community facilities.
The ambitious scheme was previously refused by the local authority in December 2011.
Developers the Pilkington Trust appealed that decision and a public inquiry was held in 2012.
However the appeal was dismissed, leading to the Trust taking their fight to the Court of Session.
But that too was refused in July 2013 before being put back on the table in October that year, when the Scottish Government recommended it be incorporated into the adopted local plan.
In his report, Mr Brian states he feels the plan is needed for Perth due to the projected population expansion of the region, which is predicted to grow by up to 24% up to 2037, according to figures produced by the Scottish National Records.
That would make Perth and Kinross one of the fastest growing regions in Scotland.
Mr Brian says: “As a consequence, Perth and Kinross Council are required through their annual housing land availability studies to ensure there is enough land available for population growth expected to be in and around Perth city.
“Due to topographical, landscape and infrastructure constraints it was considered that the best and most sustainable location was around west/north-west Perth due to its proximity to Perth city centre, Inveralmond Industrial Estate and the A9 trunk road.
“This has resulted in Almond Valley Village, Berth Park and Perth West being allocated in the local development plan as strategic development areas that could help deliver over 5,000 dwellings and thereby significantly meet the expected population growth.”
His report continues: “To not meet this predicted population growth could lead to a significant housing shortfall within the Perth housing market area, and result in the planning authority having to consider alternative sites in less accessible and sustainable locations.”
Mr Brian’s document on Almond Valley also states that the development will provide a “significant increase” in Perth’s economy, based on the estimated annual expenditure on convenience and compassion goods will be in the region of £8.5 million.
“This expenditure should have a significant positive impact on Perth city centre, nearby commercial centres and the Inveralmond Industrial Estate, with its many ancillary retail facilities.”
These figures were based on a Perth and Kinross retail study undertaken in 2014, which estimated that average convenience goods available expenditure in 2019 per household will be £2,047 per annum.
At the time of Mr Brian’s report a total of 85 objections had been lodged regarding Almond Valley. The main reasons for these were the excessive scale of the proposed development, the loss of countryside, adverse impact on paths for walkers and cyclists, adverse impact on existing housing, erosion of river bank and its impact on property values.
The plan will be discussed at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee on Wednesday.
