Public to have say on £33.8m proposal
The public will be given a chance to have their say on proposals to deliver a £33.8 million leisure-led development in West Kinfauns.
It comes as councillors called for a park and ride facility at the development to be“realistic”and not“park in a field”.
The destination is being proposed by plant machinery company Morris Leslie - and could create 170 jobs.
The plans include a four-star hotel, museum, holiday accommodation and retail, as well as a potential park and ride facility.
The development would be located next door to Morris Leslie’s West Kinfauns HQ.
It is mooted that the development will also accommodate up to 80,000 visitors in Perth and Kinross annually, boosting the local visitor economy.
The developer has formally submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Perth and Kinross Council, informing that it intends to submit a planning application for the development following a minimum 12-week consultation period.
However, because the Scottish Government has suspended in-person public consultation events due to COVID-19, an online public consultation will take place between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday, March 16.
Full details about the proposals will be made available to the public at 9am earlier that same day on the dedicated West Kinfauns website.
Meanwhile, councillors discussed the plan at a planning and development committee on Tuesday this week (March 9) where two members expressed a wish the park and ride facility be“realistic”.
Lib Dem Strathmore councillor Lewis Simpson - the council’s former active travel ambassador - said he hoped it was a“real form of park and ride facility”.
He said the one at Broxden was “great”but the one in Scone was “more park in a field”.
Perth City South Lib Dem councillor Willie Wilson - who does not drive and regularly uses public transport - echoed those concerns.
He said:“It must be a realistic park and ride. The challenge is not in building it but in servicing it.”
He suggested having the number 16 bus service just going in once an hour would not work and asked developers to consider a link for walking/cycling to and from Perth city centre.
Cllr Wilson also asked that consideration was given to the “iconic”view which he compared to the Rhine. The site is next to the River Tay under the shadow of Perth’s famous Kinnoull Hill.
He said:“This is a key site. It’s one of the most iconic views in Perth and Kinross.
“It’s the Rhine - or our version of it - and so the view from Kinnoull Hill must be taken into account.”
The proposals and the consultation will be available at www.west-kinfauns.co.uk