Developers behind one of the biggest housing plans to come before Perth council chiefs believe the project is vital for the area.
A decision on the controversial Almond Valley scheme cited for the west of the city, which includes proposals for 1,400 homes and a primary school on land between Huntingtowerfield and Ruthvenfield, will be known in a few weeks’ time.
Savills, who are acting on behalf of developers the Pilkington Trust, said the predicted spiralling population in Perth and Kinross will be partially catered for by the development.
The statistics are sourced from Savills research, the National Registers of Scotland and the Scottish Government, consist of household projections from 2012 to 2037.
Perth and Kinross will see a 32% increase in households aged between 16 and 29 years of age, and will also experience a 44% increase in households aged between 30 and 44, compared to an overall 7% in Scotland.
They also claim Perth and Kinross will see the number of households with two adults and children increase by 13%.
Alastair Wood, director of planning at Savills, told The Courier if the plan is passed by the council, it would provide much needed affordable and “family housing” for people “born and bred” in Perth.
“The proposal is already part of the council’s local development plan, but it is also a bigger piece of the jigsaw,” he said.
“There is the housing plan for Berth Park, the A85/A9 infrastructure roads’ scheme and you also have the first stage of the Tay link road in the pipeline. These all fit together.
“Almond Valley will also provide a new primary school, while Bertha Park will see a new secondary school built.
“The Perth and Kinross area should see a population growth, which creates a lot of people spending money in local shops and restaurants along with an increase in commerce.
“With the new roads’ infrastructure in place, this will lessen congestion and led to more movement within Perth.”
Kenny Simpson, chairman of Methven and District Community Council, has described the Almond Valley plan as “unsupportable” and added that of all the current housing plans on offer for west Perth, he sees it as “the least worthy of support.”
The plan will be discussed by council chiefs in early May.