£4.5m plan gets go ahead
Plans for a £4.5 million retail development in Crieff have been given the green light, it has been revealed.
Developers London and Scottish this week announced the site west of Duchlage Farm is set to house a B&M store and garden centre.
The decision was rubber-stamped by David Littlejohn – head of planning and development at Perth and Kinross Council – under delegated powers on June 22, according to the local authority’s website.
Glasgow-based London and Scottish said the project would create 50 long-term retail jobs, as well as 30 construction jobs in the process of the initial vision becoming a reality.
Work is expected to commence in late October and be completed in June next year.
The location is close to both Duchlage Road and Broich Road, near to where the town’s Aldi store is situated.
Strathearn ward independent councillor Rhona Brock said:“This will be welcomed by the community of Crieff and the surrounding areas.
“It gives people another shopping outlet that saves them travelling further afield and keeps trade within the town.
“I hope this will attract many to the area, allowing them to see just what great shops we have to offer on the High Street.”
The recently-approved blueprint for the plot of land measuring nearly 7900 square metres also includes scope for a substation, service yard, vehicular access, parking areas and landscaping.
Cllr Brock continued:“The development also brings a footpath that will link with the existing public footway.
“This will be welcomed by many parents and others who use this route on a daily basis, making Broich Road a safer route for everyone.”
Andy Richardson is a director with the developer, which is part of London and Scottish Property Investment Management and valued the project at £4.5 million.
He declared:“We are delighted to have worked with Perth and Kinross Council to secure the development of this new and exciting retail outlet that complements Crieff’s existing High Street offer.
“This site represents the latest in a series of successful retail developments in collaboration with B&M stores.”
The council report states planning permission was granted in 2017 and adds:“The proposal is to erect a single class one retail unit extending to 2044sqm with an adjoining garden centre extending to 696sqm and the submission indicates that there is a contractual position in place for B&M to be the operator.
“The building is proposed to be located on the northern half of the site with a car park for 76 vehicles proposed to the south along Broich Road.
“A new vehicular access is proposed in the south-east corner of the site on to Broich Road.”
The land is one of several sites London and Scottish is redeveloping following the successful acquisition of 14 redundant sites from Tesco in 2015.