Sainsbury’s says it would help fund road improvements as part of a £40 million supermarket proposal on the outskirts of Perth.
On March 1, the supermarket giant lodged a revised plan with Perth and Kinross Council for a store on the site of the former agricultural mart on Crieff Road, which includes moving the site of a petrol station.
It is estimated that, if approved, around 450 full and part-time jobs would be created. The site would include a supermarket with ”appropriate” car parking spaces.
The Courier understands that the financial input from Sainsbury’s to help fund the road improvements to the A9/A85 would amount to a seven-figure sum.
Due to concerns about the traffic implications, Sainsbury’s set up a website and Twitter account to gauge public reaction to their previous two proposals for the store.
The revised plan follows an alternative proposal for a £30 million supermarket and petrol station, lodged by Edinburgh-based Manse LLP, to be developed at nearby Newton Farm, which borders St Johnstone FC’s McDiarmid Park.
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury’s said the company would help with the roads infrastructure investment as it would demonstrate the company’s ”commitment” to Perth.
”This contribution is to help facilitate the proposed road infrastructure changes in the west of Perth, which is known locally to suffer from congestion on the A85 corridor at certain times of the day,” she said.
”The emerging Local Development Plan recognises that Perth will have to grow westward in future and therefore increased capacity in the road network is key to ensuring this growth can be delivered sustainably.
”The proposed Sainsbury’s store on Crieff Road is situated in the west of the city, and has been shown to cause no net detriment to the traffic in the local area during peak times and an improvement at all other times.”
She continued: ”Sainsbury’s own plans for improvements to the A85 have also been rubber stamped by Transport Scotland. However, Sainsbury’s recognise that Perth and Kinross Council’s investment in improving local transport routes in the area will benefit both the community and improve access to the proposed store, and as such Sainsbury’s are delighted to offer a contribution to support this key project.
”If the plans for the store are approved by the council, Sainsbury’s is firmly committed to making this contribution, and would look for it to be enshrined in a Section 75 legal agreement to allow the council to draw down the money when the development has been delivered.”
She added that in addition to the financial contribution, Sainsbury’s has submitted a detailed planning application for an alternative location for the petrol station after ”extensive engagement with local neighbours”.
Paul Miller, national development surveyor for Sainsbury’s, said he feels the ”future of Perth” relies on westward expansion.
”Our gift to support the A9/A85 improvements should enable that future to be realised more readily,” he said.
Photo by Ian Nicholson/PA