‘Alarming’: Decision to approve controversial development blasted

Civic Trust voices conservation fears as retirement village gets the green light

The decision to approve a controversial development at a former hotel in Kinross despite widespread objections has been called “alarming”.

The Windlestrae Hotel on Muirs Road will be demolished and replaced with a 41-property retirement village following a contentious Perth and Kinross Council committee meeting.

Members of the Kinross-shire Civic Trust spoke out against the Juniper Residential development at the meeting as they detailed concerns about the loss of 50 mature trees on the site including a sycamore that has a British Standard Category A rating.

The community organisation also spoke of incorrect information within the planning officer’s Report of Handling about the intrusion of the proposal into the town’s conservation area.

The planning officer appeared to concede that some of the project did intrude into the conservation area which was not originally apparent in the report.

Following the meeting Kinrossshire Civic Trust called the decision “disappointing” and “alarming”.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “By a small majority the committee decided to sanction the development without further proper scrutiny and investigation of the major points of contention raised by Kinross-shire Civic Trust, the community council and others.

“It was confirmed that Kinross-shire Civic Trust was correct in identifying a major failure and misdirection in regard to the conservation area boundary within the report by council officers.

“Kinross-shire Civic Trust find it alarming that although such fundamental errors have been pointed out the committee has nevertheless given approval.”

All three Kinross-shire councillors on the committee also had serious misgivings about the development with concerns raised about density, the loss of trees, the effect on the conservation area and the thoroughness of certain surveys.

Developers Juniper Residential said they were delighted with the decision.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Our development will enable older people to maintain independence in the local community, whist retaining home ownership in a safe and secure environment.”

Kinrossshire Civic Trust find it alarming that although such fundamental errors have been pointed out the committee has nevertheless given approval. TRUST SPOKESPERSON

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The loss of mature trees is among concerns raised over the development.