Councillors approve plans for ‘futuristic’house

Councillors have approved plans for a home in rural Perthshire that locals have called“futuristic”and “out-of-keeping”.

The applicants have been granted permission to replace a threebedroomed Fearnan bungalow, formerly Briar Croft, with a house twice the size.

But locals argued the current 1970s-style bungalow fits in more with the historic“Highland crofting village”.

The approved house will be built in the hillside in a contemporary style with a zinc roof (100 per cent recyclable), smooth white render, timber cladding and a glass frontage to take advantage of the views over Loch Tay.

A group of Fearnan residents attended last Wednesday’s planning and development management committee to voice their concerns.

Sue Dolan-Betney, chair of Glenlyon and Loch Tay Community Council spoke of her“deep consternation”to a “house of its size”and said it was unsympathetic to the neighbourhood and ethos of the village.

She said the design“clashes with surroundings”giving“an urban feel to a rural area.”

She said:“It’s not just contemporary but futuristic.

“The sunken glass in such large quantities is alien to the village and the area. While the rear of the house will be built into the landscape, it will have a complete glass frontage on the open side. The visual impact will be very high.”

She told councillors it threatened the “ethos and character of the rigg system.”She said the“crofting rigg system characterises Fearnan.”

The house being demolished was built circa 1970s and Mrs Dolan-Betney confirmed that many of the houses in Fearnan were built more recently in the 1970s and 80s.

The proposed three-bedroomed house will double its footprint size to 266 square metres but only take up eight per cent of the actual plot.

SNP councillor Tom Gray questioned how many villagers were actually still crofting, to which Mrs Dolan-Betney admitted there was just one active farmer but insisted Fearnan takes its character from the fact it was a crofting village.

Architect Richard Hall told the committee said:“Change is expected and required whether we like it or not.”

He said the house would be built using sustainable materials and argued it was“absolutely the right house for the site”saying it had been “designed for the plot”. He conceded that while it was wider than the existing house it “makes a better relationship with the view”.

SNP councillor Eric Drysdale put forward an amendment to go against the council planning officers’ recommendations and refuse the application. He later said:“It looks more like an office block.”

Lib Dem councillor Willie Wilson seconded saying it was“a step too far”.

Conservative councillor and convener Roz McCall motioned for approval.

Seven councillors voted in favour of the motion with five voting for Cllr Drysdale’s amendment for refusal.