The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Plans for controversial development are approved by council
Residents fear the site is prone to flooding
Plans for a major housing expansion at Kinross have been approved, despite fears about flooding on the site.
Persimmon Homes won consent for a 300-property master plan at Lathro Farm in March this year.
Weeks later, it submitted an amended proposal for the site, which is still pending.
Springfield Properties, the firm behind Perth’s Bertha Park project, has now won permission for 47 houses on land to the south of the farm.
Addressing councillors, Ken Whitcombe, whose home overlooks the site, said: “Parts of the site flood about two or three times a year and locals are worried that the problem is getting worse.”
He said a complaint had been made to the European Commission about the council’s handling of the original master plan.
Mr Whitcombe added a survey he had carried out on the area found “excessive” levels of radioactive radon.
Councillors were told an assessment undertaken as part of the previous master plan application found no homes were at risk from flooding.
Jim Ravey, land and property manager at Springfield, said the estate was designed with the existing flood risk report in mind.
Kinross-shire councillor Mike Barnacle said he too had concerns, adding: “After periods of heavy rain, you see dumper trucks up to their axles in water”.
Councillors agreed to approve the bid for 47 homes, but they will also visit the site to prepare for future planning applications.
The idea was suggested by Councillor Willie Wilson. “I have concerns about the overall development,” he said.
“And to be blunt, I thought the answers from the applicant’s representative came across as quite complacent.”
The committee heard concerns about radon would be addressed at a later date, with a building warrant application.
Councillors also approved a separate planning application for six properties at the same site for Persimmon Homes.
The company stressed that the plan did not represent an increase on the 300-property project already approved.