Council members throw out house on hill plan

Plans to build a new family home into the hillside in Highland Perthshire has been blocked by councillors.

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee on Wednesday, March 14, elected members threw out plans for a one and a half storey high home to be built in the hillside behind residential flats Cuil an Daraich in Logierait.

This is despite the local authority’s planning officers recommending the application be approved.

Mr McMenemy, a businessman from Logeirait said he did not want to cause confrontation, but also wanted to have a family home. Speaking to the committee, he said:“I am a local businessman from Logierait, I have lived there since 2002 and I want to build a family home.

“There has been eight objections against this, but five of them are from people who have holiday homes and let them out, they are not people who live in Logierait.

“I just want a family home, the only reason I have not got on with it is because I hate confrontation.”

Mr McMenemy’s previous application for the proposed development was refused back in 2014, with the plans presented at this weeks meeting unchanged since then.

One of the main concerns raised by councillors at the meeting was the lack of vehicular access to the proposed property. The site would only be accessed by a 55-step footpath leading from Cuil an Daraich’s main car park.

Many of the objectors also said they worried about how the development would impact on the visual amenity of the current residents, including the old walled garden.

Megan Adam, who lives in Cuil an Daraich, spoke to the committee on behalf of the objectors.

She said:“The first and most serious concern we have is access to the site. There is no vehicular access, it would be from the communal building and up a very steep embankment 110 metres above sea level. The report says 55 steps to the site - I would say double that.

“Access to emergency vehicles, the elderly or disabled, or septic tank cleaners would be more than difficult.

“This new home is one and a half storeys high so it would not be tucked in behind Cuil an Daraich, it would be elevated and looking into the windows of the existing residents.

“Any development should be appropriate to the building’s character and what is proposed does not meet this condition at all.”

Cllr Willie Wilson proposed the plans should be refused, and he was seconded by Cllr Henry Anderson.

Cllr Bob Band suggested the development should be approved, and he was seconded by Cllr Eric Drysdale. In addition, Cllr Tom Gray said he wished the applicant well with his development.

But councillors voted to refuse the application eight votes to four.

Speaking after the decision, Megan Adam said:“I am very, very happy. We are managing to maintain community spirit in the area.

“This is a small win but huge in our eyes.”