Trust joins Scone housing objectors
Conservation charity battles housing proposals
The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity has opened a new front in a Perthshire community’s ongoing battle against plans for a major housing development.
The Woodland Trust has become the latest group to submit an objection to Perth and Kinross Council in response to A&J Stephen’s highly controversial in-principle application to build up to 700 houses at Scone North against the wishes of hundreds of local residents.
The Trust points out in its objection that a large area of ancient woodland known as the “Highfield Plantation” is right next to where A&J Stephen wants to build and that about 5400 square metres of ancient woodland - the protection of which is one of the Trust’s four main aims - would be destroyed as a result of the proposed development.
In a letter to PKC, the Trust’s Jack Taylor says A&J Stephen’s proposal “clearly contradicts” Scottish Government policy which favours the protection of woodland over development and that the loss of ancient woodland in particular would be “totally unacceptable”.
“Development in ancient woodland can lead to long-term changes in species composition, particularly ground flora and sensitive fauna i.e. nesting birds, mammals and reptiles,” he wrote.
“In this case the impacts on fauna and flora would be extreme due to the destruction of the majority of the ancient woodland complex surrounding the existing quarry site.
“Majorly adverse impacts would occur as a result of the removal of large areas of woodland, much of which is highly valuable habitat providing a home for an abundance of rare and valuable fauna and flora species.
“When land use is changed to a more intensive use such as in this situation, plant and animal populations are exposed to environmental impacts from outside of the woodland.
“In particular, the habitats will become more vulnerable to the outside influences or edge effects that result from the adjacent land’s change of use.
“These detrimental edge effects can result in changes to the environmental conditions within the woodland and consequently affecting the wood’s stable conditions.
Mr Taylor concludes: “Ancient woodland is irreplaceable; once it lost it cannot be re-created. The Trust believes that any development resulting in damage or loss to ancient woodland is totally unacceptable and must not be afforded planning permission.
“In summary, the Woodland Trust strongly objects to this planning application. It is essential that ancient woodland is retained and not subjected to damage and loss that would occur as part of the proposals.
“When this impact is coupled with the roundabout proposed to connect the development to the A93 - via the Cross Tay Link Road - it would result in majorly adverse impacts on the ancient woodland and associated wildlife.
“A buffer of at least 50m between areas of development and ancient woodland would help to alleviate indirect impacts.”
The local authority initially said it had not received the objection from the Woodland Trust.
It has since transpired the original objection had been sent to an incorrect email address and that the Trust would be resubmitting the same objection again soon for the council’s consideration.
“The planning team have spoken to the Woodland Trust this morning to arrange for their submission to be re-sent so that it can be added in,” the council spokesperson said. “Once we have received this it will be processed and added to the portal.”