Two major housing plans that will see more than 400 homes built in Auchterarder have been lodged with Perth and Kinross Council, with crop marks visible near both sites.
A proposal for Stewart Milne Homes would see 261 houses, including 40 affordable houses built on a 12-hectare site Kirkton, while a separate plan for 147 houses and associated engineering operations has been submitted for land at Castlemains Farm, near the Community School of Auchterarder.
The Auchterarder Expansion Development Framework was approved by the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee as supplementary planning guidance, following public consultation in April and May 2006.
This framework was prepared by a consortium of developers including Muir Homes, Stewart Milne and a community steering group.
Nick Brian, Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager, has prepared a report on both plans, and described the development of the land at Kirkton, Auchterarder, as constituting a “significant element” of the housing land supply in the Strathearn Housing Market Area.
In his report, Mr Brian says the development site in Kirkton, Auchterarder, would be accessed by new roundabouts off Hunter Street and The Feus.
“A mixture of two-storey house types is proposed which are accessed off a main spinal road and arranged around landscaped squares and areas of open space,” he said.
“The affordable housing will be provided to the west of the site. A new footpath and cycleway is proposed adjacent to the new road.”
Mr Brian’s report states that “initial concerns” from existing residents along The Feus has been resolved through amendment to the layout to avoid overlooking and “overshadowing” along the south-west boundary of the site.
“Play area provision and open space within the site along with easy pedestrian access to the town’s recreational facilities and the wider countryside allows sufficient access in terms of recreational amenity,” he adds.
“Overall, the proposal provides a satisfactory level of residential amenity to the occupants of the development and will not prejudice the residential amenity enjoyed by existing adjoining residents.
“In phase one at Kirkton, 40 affordable units will be provided to the west of the site and include a mixture of house types.
“In the field to the north of the development site, aerial photographic survey has recorded the crop marks of two large linear features running north-south and interpreted as track ways or hollow-ways.
“They may have been historic routes to the St Mackessog’s Church, the medieval church founded in the 12th century and the predecessor of Auchterarder Parish Church.
“It is anticipated that these linear features may extend into the development site.”
Mr Brian also states that beyond the development site, to the east of Aberuthven and to the north-west of Auchterarder, “significant prehistoric sites” have been recorded at Belhie and at Easthill in similar landscape settings.
He recommends approval of this plan, as he does with the other plan for 147 houses at Castlemains Farm, Auchterarder.
This proposal, if passed, would include 16 affordable houses, associated infrastructure, open space and a full-size football pitch at Castlemains, which is situated on the northern edge of Auchterarder.
The housing would consist of a mixture of two-bedroom apartments, semi-detached bungalows and terraced villas, as well as five-bedroom detached villas in single and two-storey design.
Again, aerial photography has recorded crop marks of a large enclosure in the field to the east of this proposed development.
This is regarded as potentially a prehistoric settlement site.