Second call to scrap pylons from objectors
Appeal could mean more development to come
A power company has had to lodge three further appeals with the Scottish Government to protect pylons on land that developers have their eye on for another major housebuilding project on Perth’s western edge.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution has already had to ask the government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) to consider granting “necessary wayleave” for the 275kV line at Bertha Park Farm because the landowners believe it is “sterilising prime development land” and want six of its towers to be taken down.
Now a second landowner, said to be Hermiston Securities Limited (HSL) in documents published online, also wants Scottish Hydro to remove a further three pylons on land west of Glendevon Farm and the children’s activity centre Noah’s Ark across the Old Gallows Road west of Perth.
HSL is part of the Muir Group, which was previously involved in the ‘Perth West Charrette’ – a series of meetings led by Perth and Kinross Council planning officers where the company discussed a proposal to develop the same area of land.
The scheme did not make it into the council’s Local Development Plan, however, as a Scottish Government reporter ruled the proposal for it to be included was “inappropriate and insufficient” because a proposed new access road to the south of the site had “not been considered or publicised”.
He did, however, go on to say: “It is recommended that site H70 is not allocated for residential development but is excluded from the greenbelt and included within the settlement boundary so as to preserve its development potential.”
PKC has since used the reporter’s remarks to come up with a new Strategic Development Framework for the same area which it has said could be used “in the event that a planning application for the wider Perth West area is submitted.”
And in a sign an application could be on the cards consultants acting for HSL have said in correspondence published online as part of the DPEA case the company wants the three pylons west of Glendevon Farm taken down to “ensure the full viability of the developable extent” of the area.
Writing to Scottish Hydro late last year John Petrie, of the Petrie Buchanan Group, said: “We have been instructed by HSL to serve notice for the removal of the apparatus from the land.
“Following a detailed title diligence exercise carried out in respect of the land, it has been established that the apparatus does not benefit from any live wayleave agreement; the previous wayleave agreement having terminated upon change of owner of the land.
“No termination notice is therefore required with this letter acting as a formal notice to remove. HSL therefore now requires vacant possession of the land in order to ensure the full viability of the developable extent.”
Scottish Hydro has since written to the Scottish Government requesting the towers be retained on the land for “a minimum of 40 years”, stating: “This distribution line forms an important part of the 11kV distribution network in the Glendevon area of Perth and is vital to the continued economic and efficient operation of the electricity distribution network.”
The Scottish Government has yet to assign a reporter to consider Scottish Hydro’s case.