Housing proposal for site of former Perth Mart backed

Councillors approve ‘in principle’application

Developers are one step closer to securing permission to build hundreds more houses on Perth’s Western Edge following a decision taken by the council’s development management committee.

Councillors approved an “inprinciple” application to build up to 270 new houses at the former Perth Mart site, which lies south of the A85 and to the west of the A9 and Dobbies Garden Centre at East Huntingtower, on Wednesday last week.

The applicants, Perth City West LLP, which is currently in administration, had previously secured planning permission for a supermarket to be built at the same site.

However, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, who had previously expressed an interest in building a new £40million, 67,500 sq ft superstore at the site, decided not to buy it back in 2014 and it has been neglected ever since.

Since then Perth City West LLP has again been granted planning permission for a supermarket at the site even though the development management committee was told at the time the application was considered there was little chance of another supermarket chain taking command of the land.

The council’s legal manager, Geoff Fogg, conceded at a meeting of the committee back in September last year that it was “improbable” the proposed retail development would actually go ahead.

And speaking to councillors on behalf of Perth City West LLP last Wednesday, planning consultant Phil Pritchett confirmed there was “no interest” from any supermarket chains or any other retailers in developing the site despite a prolonged marketing exercise.

“There’s no interest in developing the site for any other purposes,” he said.

And speaking about the housing application before councillors he continued: “This is now the most appropriate use of the site.”

Councillor Callum Gillies was the only elected member to express reservations in approving the application, drawing attention to the continuing problem of traffic queueing on the congested A85.

Referring to the ongoing works on the A9/A85 junction upgrade, which the council believes will alleviate the congestion when it is finished, he said: “I would like to see this held back until the [new] road network is in place.

“I think this will put a lot of strain on the A85 and ... make pollution in that area worse.”

Before Councillor Gillies had the chance to propose a motion to refuse or defer the application, however, he was told by Mr Fogg that it would be “difficult” for the committee to accept such a motion as it was only an “in principle” application.

“Nothing can happen until a [full] application comes forward,” he explained.

As a result Councillor Gillies declined to propose a motion and the application was approved without a vote.