Airport housing plans face building curbs

scone: Council set to approve bid but could restrict any construction until work starts on CTLR

A construction embargo could be placed on ambitious plans to create new housing and jobs at Perth Airport.

The Morris Leslie Group has lodged proposals for a major development on the edge of the Scone aerodrome.

Although details about the size of the project are sketchy, the land has been allocated for 50 houses as part of Perth and Kinross Council’s local development plan.

This week, members of the new-look development management committee are expected to approve the application in principal.

But a condition could be slapped on the scheme, stating that no work can begin on new housing until the long-awaited Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) – linking Scone to the A9 – was “committed”.

This means work on the new multimillion-pound bridge must have started before the Perth Airport plan can begin. Planners want a similar restriction on separate plans to build 700 homes at Scone North.

In his report, interim planning officer Nick Brian said the embargo would not affect the employment element of the plan.

“The principle of employment development, some 50% of the proposed site use, is fully compliant with the local development plan,” he said.

“The other 50% – residential use – is, however, constrained by the plan’s spatial strategy in that no new housing over 10 units should be consented until the CTLR is a committed project.”

He said that the scheme would pump nearly £300,000 into the local economy.

“This expenditure should have a positive impact on Scone and Perth city centre, in particular,” added Mr Brian.

Scone and District Community Council said the plan should not go ahead until the bridge is built.

In a letter to planners, the group highlighted a recent statement by Dr Drew Walker, director of public health for NHS Tayside.

He said he supported a proposal “to seek assurances that no further developments will go ahead before the CTLR is built”.

Community council secretary Hazel MacKinnon said: “Air pollution at Bridgend, and Perth generally, is currently at an unacceptable level, which are in excess of EU regulation levels, and a development of any size can only be detrimental to the congestion and air pollution problems, with resultant morbidity and mortality.”

Meanwhile, a separate application by Morris Leslie to convert an old antiques centre at the airport into flats has been rejected.

Council officers said the building should instead by kept for employment use.

The other 50%– residential use – is, however, constrained by the plan’s spatial strategy in that no new housing over 10 units should be consented until the CTLR is a committed project. NICK BRIAN, INTERIM PLANNING OFFICER