A controversial plan to build 74 houses on a Carse of Gowrie site identified as suitable for just 16 homes has been withdrawn.
The move has been welcomed by local councillor Alasdair Bailey, while the company behind the development said it was an opportunity to rethink its plans.
The site at Inchture is currently used as an informal open space and is bounded to the north by the A90 Dundee to Perth dual carriageway, with a potato packing plant immediately to the south and Inchture Primary school playing fields to the west.
The initial proposal was met with a barrage of complaints from locals who claimed it would have an adverse impact on village life and that localservices would be unable to cope with a development of that magnitude.
It was also suggested that the number of cars it would generate would have an adverse impact on traffic levels and pollution.
Mr Bailey had objected, saying that “cramming” in so many houses so close to a road would be “a bad outcome for the village”.
He also said the character of the village would have been “irreversibly altered” by the installation of a 4m acoustic fence.
The councillor has now welcomed the withdrawal of the application, saying: “Happy to see that the application for 74 houses on the Gypsy Field at Inchture has been withdrawn.
“It just wasn’t in keeping with the village. A 4m high acoustic fence more befits an airport than Inchture. I’m sure we can do better.”
Steven Brady, managing director of Hadden Construction Ltd, confirmed that despite the withdrawal of the application the firm was still keen to develop the land.
“We are in regular dialogue with the planning department to ensure that the development proposal for the site matches the aspirations and community needs of Inchture and Perth and Kinross Council,” he said.
“The application has been withdrawn to allow us to continue to work with the council and develop the proposals to realise these aspirations.”
