Substationwill beonthemove
Councillors have approved plans to move a substation to a more prominent location.
The move is part of plans to alter the external layout at the recently converted Conachar Court retirement complex on Perth’s Isla Road owned by Balhousie Care Group.
The council received 29 objections to the works.
Concerns were also raised about “traffic, construction traffic, roads and pedestrian safety, damage to vehicles from construction works, traffic congestion as well as access for emergency vehicles.”
Councillors at last week’s planning and development management committee were satisfied officers had addressed these concerns in their report and unanimously approved plans.
The report acknowledged: “the previous substation location was preferable and less prominent being located at the southern corner of the site next to Isla Road.”
The planning officer’s report said: “The new substation location is now next to the site entrance between the care home building and the parking area.
“It is prominent in comparison to its existing position but, taking account of the site constraints and Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) requirements, the new location has been justified by the agent.
“The industrial appearance of the substation will be reduced with the deployment of screen fencing but it will ultimately be the screen planting that will assist in successfully integrating this feature into the site.”
Seconding the paper, moved by Conservative councillor Roz McCall, Conservative councillor Ian James said: “I note the concern for construction traffic but it’s going to be short-lived.”