Developers behind a controversial proposal for western Perth have claimed that Perth and Kinross Council’s housing plan has “serious flaws”.
The Courier can reveal that the Pilkington Trust has written to all Perth and Kinross councillors, including leader Ian Miller, to express its grievance at Almond Valley not being included in the proposed local development plan.
An appeal against a decision by the council to refuse the plan for the Almond Valley Village was knocked back by the Scottish Government’s directorate for planning and environmental appeals Reporter Katrina Rice in September.
The Almond Valley plan would have seen 1,500 homes, a primary school and leisure, retail and office facilities built on land next to Huntingtowerfield and Ruthvenfield.
Last night Alastair Wood, head of planning for Savills who sent the letters to councillors on behalf of the Pilkington Trust claimed the local authority’s current proposed housing plan, which will be discussed by the Scottish Government on February 11, has “serious flaws”.
He said: “The council’s housing plan does not allow for growth or investment and we are hopeful the Scottish Government reappraises the situation. In our opinion, this still leaves Perth without a viable strategy to generate much-needed jobs and investment and without a realistic chance of meeting its housing needs over the next 10 years.”
In the letters to Perth and Kinross councillors, he outlines the defects which he believes are in the plan:
l The 750 identified houses at Bertha Park require the compulsory purchase of land from St Johnstone FC, the Pilkington Trust and the Bob Reid Discretionary Trust.
l The cost of the road through to Bertha Park will be in addition to the circa £15 million cost of the new A85/A9 junction which is required prior to work starting on a new Sainsbury’s store in Crieff Road, Perth.
l The 500 houses at the northern end of the Perth west site will not be able to make a significant contribution towards the cost of the road.
l The long-term development of the whole of the Perth west site is reliant on a new road junction on the A9 at Broxden at a cost of around £25m.
l None of the strategic housing sites identified in the proposed plan have been properly assessed and only the Almond Valley site has been fully tested and found by the Reporter to be deliverable.
The letter states: “One option would be for the council to recommend to the Scottish Government that it should include the (Almond Valley) site and allow the Reporters to amend the plan at the examination in public (in May/June).
“The second option should have a plan which can encourage much-needed investment and new jobs in Perth.
“It is therefore important that the council takes ownership of this issue and approve a plan which is realistic, viable and deliverable and not leave matters to the Scottish Government to resolve.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The Almond Valley proposal attracted 51 representations supporting the removal of the site from the plan, and five seeking its reinstatement in the plan.
“All these representations, together with the council’s response, will now be submitted to the Scottish Ministers, who will appoint an independent Reporter to consider this issue in due course.”