DeVeLopmeNt oN City outsKirts JOBS BONANZA IS ON THE WAY Council set to pass plans for homes, shops and hotels

A major development on the edge of Perth which is expected to create thousands of jobs is set to be given the go-ahead by councillors.

Plans for the southern half of the proposed Perth West development comprises homes, shops, hotels, restaurants and the ‘Perth Innovation Highway’ connecting Perth to the A9.

Council officers have recommended the development – predicted to bring 2300 jobs plus 3000 temporary construction jobs – be approved.

The 257-hectare site sits immediately to the west of Perth beyond the A9.

The plans will go before a virtual meeting of PKC’s planning and development management committee on Tuesday.

This stage of Perth West includes up to 1500 homes; business units; shops; food and drinks outlets; hotels; a primary school; healthcare centre; bus depot ; car park; Perth Innovation Highway; vehicle fuelling/charging centre; a new A9 junction; A9 Broxden underpass and road network, as well as footways and cycle paths.

It is proposed the building work be done over three phases.

The first phase would involve the development of around 278 homes, 11 hectares of commercial development and the proposed Perth Eco-Innovation Park.

It is proposed the 26-hectare Perth Eco-Innovation Park host a grouping of businesses within the energy, logistics and mobility sectors co-located with academic institutions, to form a ‘knowledge hub’.

Perth’s central location is seen to be advantageous here“whilst capitalising on future investment in energy, mobility, and data sectors”.

The Innovation Highway will form part of this connecting Perth to the A9 and £5 million of funding has been committed to the project from the Tay Cities Deal.

The Perth Innovation Highway is described as:“A corridor of land, to contain physical and digital infrastructure that will connect and enable delivery of land uses, including: a freight consolidation centre; and‘last mile’logistics centre and integrate these with existing and future neighbourhoods. It proposes to facilitate route prioritisation for public transport, support active travel and enable new models of urban logistics, which would be integrated with digital infrastructure (e.g. smart lighting, responsive traffic lights).”

An economic impact assessment suggests the Perth Innovation Highway will create 1055 full-time jobs putting Perth and Tayside as UK leader in the transition to a low carbon economy. The proposal going before councillors forms the southern half of what is known as the Perth West development.

The report of handling states: “Whilst it would have been an even greater impact if the landowners on the northern half of the allocation were ready to come forward in tandem, the simple fact is they are not ready or in a position to do so.

“Notwithstanding this,the impact and benefit of the proposal as it stands for Perth and the wider region is a significant, positive material consideration in the determination of the application.”

A total of 13 representations have been made to PKC in response to the development including one from Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHET) concerning the impact on electricity infrastructure and existing wayleaves.

Other issues raised include flood risk, tree loss, inadequate public consultation and the loss of a historic battlefield site.

PKC’s planning and development management committee will consider the plans on Tuesday, June 1.