Community council questions plans

A developer’s decision to lodge two separate planning applications to build a total of 60 houses within the same area has been questioned by Kinross Community Council.

In a letter to Perth and Kinross Council the group has pointed out that if a single planning application had been lodged for 60 houses this would had to have been well publicised and consulted on more widely as it would constitute a “major development”.

Kinross Community Council made the point in its objection to Springfield Properties recent application to build another 47 houses at Lathro Farm, which was apparently received by PKC on the same day the developer put in another application to build a further 13 houses within the same site.

The CC’s letter to PKC says:“We note that this application for 47 dwellings has been made at the same time as [another] application by the same applicant for 13 dwelling houses on a nearby portion of LDP site H47.

“The two applications together are, in effect, an application for 60 houses.

“An application for 60 houses would have been classed as a major development (being over 50 dwellings) and more extensive publicity and consultation would have been required.

“Does PKC consider that the letter and spirit of planning law have been complied with in this case?”

Elsewhere in its objection the CC again raises its concerns that developers are asking to build too many houses within areas apparently zoned for housing with specific numbers in mind.

Its objection reads:“The Local Development Plan (LDP) gives an allocation of 260 units on site H47 (Lathro Farm), with the supposed limit of 140 up to the year 2024.

“Despite this, Persimmon Homes have already been granted permission for 300 houses on this site.

“The community council objects to [this] application on the grounds of numbers exceeding the allocation in the LDP, and exceeding the phasing restriction.”

The CC has made a similar objection to Springfield Properties application for 13 houses.