Second attempt at homes plan OK
Scheme for 217 houses is back on agenda
Developers look likely to have a second attempt to gain permission to build more than 200 houses in Rattray granted by councillors tomorrow.
Springfield Properties’ application to build 217 houses along Glenalmond Road was due to be considered at last month’s meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee but the bid ended up being taken off the agenda.
It was established after the meeting that the form had asked to have consideration of their bid delayed so the company could address concerns raised about it by Blairgowrie and Glens councillor Caroline Shiers.
She said at the time she had concerns about the density of the proposed scheme, access to it via Hatton Road and its effect on a busy nearby junction, its potential impact on the town’s Holiday Park, parking at the site and flooding.
The same application is now due to be considered again along with what appears to be a new landscape plan as well as a revised site plan.
Planning officials have once again recommended councillors approve the application, concluding in their report of handling: “The proposals will lead to the creation of additional residential dwellings to meet forecast population growth and housing need, providing jobs during the construction period and workforce potential thereafter.
“The proposals will also assist in meeting local and national targets in achieving sustainable, economic development.
“The proposal is considered to provide a good standard of layout, which complements and works with its surroundings in terms of the existing neighbouring development, land uses and through significant landscaping proposals in securing a robust long term edge of settlement landscape buffer, appropriate in this context.
“Whilst the detailed proposals identify 57 units in addition to that referred to in the LDP site allocation, this figure was arrived at through a number of detailed considerations including a site capacity assessment, which was not undertaken at the time of producing the LDP.
“There is not therefore considered to be any significant departure from policy in relation to the consideration of all associated LDP policy criteria elements. Overall, the proposed development is considered competent and compliant with the key principles of the LDP and is recommended for approval, subject to conditional control and an associated legal agreement.”
Addressing all the concerns previously raised about the proposal Springfield Properties land manager David Jewell said yesterday: “Regarding possible impact on the neighbouring caravan park, we have amended drawings to include a landscaped bund along the boundary with the park. The height of the bund is likely to be a condition of any consent.
“On the question of density, we are proposing eight homes per acre on this development, compared to 13 per acre on the surrounding housing area, and 10 per acre on more recent developments.”
Mr Jewell went on to say the proposal had also been revised to add 75 visitor parking spaces, bringing the total to 493, which he said exceeds council requirements, and that PKC’s own officials had decided there was no cause for concern about the development’s impact on the Hatton Road/High Street junction.
He further said that flooding and drainage design details included in the application had dealt with any questions about potential flooding on the site.
And he continued: “This development will make a valuable contribution to Rattray bringing homes, jobs and economic growth. The 217 new homes include 60 much-needed affordable homes and all the homes benefit from modern design standards.
“They are attractive, inexpensive to run and easy to maintain. Building the homes will provide direct employment for 45 to 50 people on site and support the employment of others.
“We hope to have a site start before the end of the year.”