Howie appeals after farm plan knock back
Butcher Simon’s bid
The Simon Howie base in Dunning Butcher Simon Howie has appealed a decision to refuse his seven-figure plans to expand his existing farming operation in Dunning.
Mr Howie applied for planning permission to erect four new buildings at Millhouse Farm - three to store cattle, straw and animal feed and one as a workshop/office - back in December 2015.
But his application was met with 77 objections from villagers unhappy about how close the cattle would be kept to the village and concerns about the possible excessive noise and unpleasant odours. The application also received 79 letters of support.
In February, the council’s development management committee opted to refuse the application on the grounds the development was too close to residential properties.
It was said at the meeting the proposed development should have been set at least 400 metres away from residential properties in line with government guidance. One objector said she lived just 47 metres away.
Councillor Tom Gray, then convener of the committee, said the application had split the community and that he found it hard to believe Mr Howie could not find an alternative site for the development.
He moved the motion to refuse the application, which was seconded by former Strathallan councillor Ann Gaunt. Former Strathtay councillor John Kellas moved an amendment to approve the application, which was seconded by councillor Henry Anderson. Councillor Gray’s motion to refuse was successful.
However it has now emerged Mr Howie has appealed to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division to try to overturn their decision. The case is not yet ready to be allocated to a reporter.