Second crack of whip in Inchture
Developers re-submit plans for 66 houses
Developers have returned with a revised bid for a new housing development in Inchture.
Architects Oliver and Robb and construction firm Hadden Group launched an initial bid for 74 houses in the Carse of Gowrie village in May this year, complete with drainage, roads, car parking and landscaping at a 3.91-hectare site 150 metres southwest of the currently vacant Moncur Farm.
However, following 57 public objections – including one lodged on behalf of Inchture Community Council – the developers decided to withdraw their application on September 28.
Residents and the community council stood against the development on the grounds of issues surrounding primary school capacity, traffic concerns, a lack of children’s play area and noise from the adjacent A90.
Since then, the construction firm and Dunfermline-based architects submitted a fresh application for the same site, this time with a reduced house count of 66, consisting of 50 private residences and 16 affordable homes.
Although the new application is an improvement in the eyes of Carse of Gowrie Councillor Alasdair Bailey, the Labour elected member says he will still “likely object” to the revised plans.
Speaking to the PA, he said: “I’m pretty happy with the change that the community and I have been able to effect following the withdrawal of the original application, however I still have reservations and will likely object [to the second application].
“We’ve achieved a play park and a better solution to the road noise that
Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey
won’t result in the approach to the village looking like the M6 through Birmingham. The previously proposed four metre acoustic fence has been replaced by an earth bund with trees and a much smaller fence on top.
“The housing at that location is fairly inevitable because it’s now zoned for that number in the new draft LDP [local development plan].
“I’m therefore happy that we, as a community, have been able to have this level of input and impact on the plans.
“However, the LDP itself is good news for the Carse because it rules out further large-scale applications in the Carse for the next 10 years so our greenfield sites are safe unless there is a major policy shift.
“My main concern about this latest plan is that the developer, directly or through a community contribution, should upgrade the path through the grand redwood avenue that goes from the school to this site. I do therefore object on those grounds of poor pedestrian accessibility.”
Steven Brady, managing director of Hadden Group said: “Our initial planning application for the site was withdrawn on the advice of Perth and Kinross Council’s planning department.
“Following [the application’s] withdrawal, extensive consultations have taken place with PKC’s major applications team along with officers from the biodiversity, environmental health, affordable housing and flood prevention teams, as well as consultation with a local councillor to take on board comments raised.
“Inchture is a fantastic, vibrant community and we are hopeful that our development will provide family housing to sustain and enhance village life.”