Policy is denounced despite big support
Move to limit number of houses on sites slammed
Councillors from all political parties this week backed an audacious move to cap the number of homes that can be built on sites earmarked for development.
The surprise move won the support of councillors representing every ward across Perth and Kinross ahead of the full council opting to submit its next proposed local development plan to Scottish ministers for examination despite one councillor warning it would lead to arguments with developers and another denouncing it as a “populist” policy.
Moving the proposed plan which this time around specifies “capacity ranges” for strategic housing sites instead of just suggesting “numbers” like the last document, council leader Murray Lyle told the room: “This report is one of the most important reports which comes before council, setting our land use policies for the long term and shaping our future communities.
“The plan clearly sets out our ambitions for our communities. It highlights our strategic development sites concentrated on Perth city, alongside the future plans to ensure sustainable economic growth across our burghs and smaller settlements.”
And introducing an amendment seeking to set an upper limit on the number of houses developers can apply to build on sites Strathmore councillor Colin Stewart said he hoped this would put an end to conflicts between communities and housebuilders determined to build more homes on sites than had previously been envisaged.
He said: “With this new local development plan, the council is sending out the clear message that Perth and Kinross is open for business.
“But more than that, my hope is - by Councillor Willie Robertson
setting out these clear expectations and parameters - that we will give greater certainty to both our housebuilders and our residents, and that we will be able to move on from past tensions and conflict ... in short, that we will instil trust in the planning process and good neighbourliness between our residents, developers, planners and councillors for the benefit of all.”
Only five councillors - three Liberal Democrats and two SNP members opposed the move, with the majority of them arguing that setting maximum capacities for sites would lead to developers who choose to apply for greater numbers of houses anyway appealing decisions made against Councillor Lewis Simpson
them.
Liberal Democrat councillor and depute Provost Willie Wilson said: “I think that putting a strict upper limit [on sites] is not appropriate.
“I think it’s up to a developer if he wants to exceed that.”
SNP councillor Tom Gray, a former convener of the council’s development management committee, added: “This amendment would put us in a difficult position [if] we were presented with a case of exceptional circumstances.
Another Liberal Democrat, Strathmore councillor Lewis Simpson, said he had concerns about the amendment as well: “I believe it is far better for councillors to consider the merits and demerits of applications. Councillor Willie Wilson
“This is a populist measure enabling councillors to point the finger of blame for unpopular planning decisions at the Scottish Government.”
But another Liberal Democrat, Kinross-shire councillor Willie Robertson, argued: “If developers were unhappy with the numbers [in the proposed LDP2] they have had the opportunity to challenge that.
“All they want is planning consent for these sites and they think once they get that they can manipulate officers and this council to get [the numbers] they want.”
Only councillors Willie Wilson, Tom Gray and Lewis Simpson plus Lib Dem Peter Barrett and SNP member Bob Band voted against the amendment.