No action yet over school planning breach

Council officials have still not taken any direct action to stop a developer building houses on the old High School site in Kinross despite an earlier admission a key planning condition was broken some time ago.

Kinross Community Council reported people moving into new properties built to the rear of the old school building weeks ago, in breach of a condition attached to Persimmon Homes’ consent to build 91 new houses on the site.

The condition said Persimmon had to fully redevelop what remains of the Edwardian structure into four brand-new dwellings before anyone would be allowed to move in.

PKC admitted last week there had been a “breach of condition regarding the timing of the restoration works of the Edwardian building ... in advance of new build houses being occupied.”

A spokesperson also said last week the local authority had “taken legal advice to secure the necessary works with appropriate legal and financial commitments from the developers”.

It has since emerged ward councillors met with officials on Monday to put even more pressure on them to put a stop to work on the site until such time there is some sign work has started to salvage what is left of the former school building. However, asked for an update on the situation yesterday, a spokesperson would only confirm that the local authority “remains in touch” with Persimmon about the breach and is trying to “put in place a binding obligation” that will ensure the old building is retained and restored.

The statement is unlikely to satisfy Kinross Community Council, which the PA understands is still demanding officers take enforcement action to halt all work on site in the meantime.

The PKC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the council remains in contact with the developers, Persimmon Homes, in relation to the breach of condition at the former Kinross High School site.

“The council are acting to put in place a binding obligation to secure completion of external works to the Edwardian building.”