One of the owners of Comrie Croft fears Perth and Kinross Council may pose an obstacle to his plan for nine affordable homes.
Andrew Donaldson has resubmitted an application for a zero-carbon development at the popular tourist destination.
The scheme is largely the same as an application submitted a year ago.
But this was withdrawn after feedback from council planners suggested it would fall foul of planning laws protecting the countryside.
Here, Andrew explains why he thinks the latest proposal may stand a better chance.
What is the proposal?
In October 2021, The Courier reported that the Tomduie Clachan project would include nine modest homes, made from natural materials sourced locally.
The development, based on the traditional Scottish concept of clachans – a cluster of cottages – will be based at the croft to provide affordable housing.
Features of Tomduie would include a common house and laundry area, shared electric cars, renewable energy from small-scale hydro and solar power, and on-site food production.
The others would be bought at a discount that would be passed on whenever sold.
Andrew says the development would tally with the aspirations of Comrie Community Land Group, set up as an offshoot of Comrie Development Trust to develop affordable housing.
Fits in with Holyrood policy?
He also suggests his Comrie Croft idea fits in with the the newly revised draft of the fourth national planning framework 4, which focuses on rural revitalisation.
“The physical plans haven’t changed but the context of it has developed,” Andrew added.
“The council gave us feedback about the current local development plan, which says you can build one house in the countryside.
“But our scheme depends on us building a small community.
“More recent national policy says zero carbon affordable housing is exactly the thing that needs to happen.
“The local development plan [LDP] needs updating and hopefully they can make an exception because this project is ahead of its time.”
Council to back ‘groundbreaking pilot’?
Andrew believes he didn’t emphasise enough the economic and educational benefits when the first plan was lodged.
He now wants the council to take this into account and grant an exception to the current LDP.
Tomduie Clachan is part of a national smart clachan project by Rural Housing Scotland, to provide affordable accommodation.
It is one of the five pilot projects.
“It should be an exception because it is a groundbreaking pilot,” he said.
“We want to become an education centre on zero carbon living and working in rural areas.
“Without the housing it will be impossible to do that.
“This is multifaceted project. We are looking to attract visitors to learn – students, academics, school groups etc – in the off-season.
“Education would include workshops, training events, projects and tours to learn about zero carbon and solutions to climate change.”
Economic project – but is this enough?
Will it get planning permission though?
“It depends which perspective the planners have,” Andrew said.
“In the first application they took the perspective of it being a housing development but we are making the argument that it is an economic project.
“If they do look at it that way then the LDP says it should pass through quickly.
“It is definitely not a certainty to go through though.
“We have had support to develop the plans from the Scottish Government and the council but from a different department to planning.”
Interested parties have until Friday, November 25 2022 to comment
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