Multi-million-pound plans for old hospital could be thrown out

Planning chiefs will recommend refusal for housing proposals

Councillors will be urged to reject multimillion-pound plans to build more than 120 homes in the grounds of a former Perth hospital.

Two separate proposals – one for 70 houses and another for 58 flats – have been lodged by Rivertree Residential for a 3.3 hectare site at the old Murray Royal Hospital.

However, planning officials have recommended their refusal, due to concerns about the impact on nearby roads, trees and a population of protected bats.

The hospital, built in 1827, has been vacant since in 2014 after new facilities were built next to the application site between 2010 and 2012.

The planning application includes former hospital wards and a derelict building.

A report drawn up by Anne Condliffe, interim development quality manager with Perth and Kinross Council, says neither development should go ahead since they are both contrary to the local development plan.

Ms Condliffe says a submitted transport assessment failed to acknowledge the “detrimental” effect of additional traffic on local roads.

She says the developers failed provide to up-to-date surveys and a species protection plan to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on European protected bats.

Ms Condliffe also warns the plan for 70 homes would require trees to be removed, damaging local woodland.

Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council has opposed the plans, claiming they will lead to chaos on the roads.

In a letter submitted to the council, the group also says the construction of 70 houses on the site would be “a gross over-development”.

It said: “What does cause great concern, impelling us to object, is the failure of the developer to recognise that a development of this scale along with other associated developments will result in gridlock on our local roads, and, in particular, the Bridgend junction.

“The traffic assessment submitted by the applicant grossly underestimates the degree of saturation on local roads.”

Agents for Rivertree Residential said the plans would protect existing sensitive features of the historic hospital building.

The two schemes will be discussed at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee next Wednesday.

The traffic assessment submitted by the applicant grossly underestimates the degree of saturation on local roads

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The former Murray Royal Hospital on Muirhall Road, Perth.