Builders set out housing plan
Rattray residents have say on 200 new homes
Around 50 people attended a drop-in event about plans for more than 200 houses in Rattray’s Glenalmond Road.
The event was held at Rattray Community Connect on Wednesday last week, hosted by developers Springfield Properties.
The firm is behind 80 new properties at Kinloch Gardens by the school and recently submitted a proposal of application notice (PAN) for the potential new development to Perth and Kinross Council.
The application by the Larbetbased developer is for a residential development of around 205 homes, which would be a mixture of two, three and fourbedroomed houses, landscaping, open space and associated infrastructure.
The PAN is the first stage in the planning process for a major development.
The developer is required to submit the notice 12 weeks before a planning application is made to the council and outline its plans for consulting the local community before any planning application is made.
Speaking at the drop-in session, David Jewell from Springfield Properties said they hope to submit the planning application in September.
He added the earliest they would start work on site would be towards the end of 2017.
He said: “This session is about providing an opportunity for the community to come and see the proposals and provide feedback and comments to us.
“We have images of the range of different house types we can offer, including bungalows which we think might be a real selling point, and we are looking at working in partnership with a housing association on the provision of affordable housing within the development.
“We had around 50 people through the doors during the day, which is a really good turnout, and the majority of people seem to be in favour of the proposal.
“We have been pleased with the comments and feedback we have received. It has been very useful and interesting and we can take it and use it in the planning application.
“We don’t just do this sort of consultation simply as a boxticking exercise. We want to hear from the people who will be living next to the development.”
Blairgowrie and the Glens councillor Caroline Shiers said: “I was glad there was a good amount of interest in the proposals.
“Already issues regarding the capacity of roads in the area, flooding, education and recreation facilities and the creation of a community space and not just a whole lot of houses have been raised with me by residents.
“As this proposal moves on we will be able to have discussions about all of these issues.”
Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council chair Morag Young said: “Their plans certainly look encouraging, particularly if they are to build the affordable housing as part of the development.
“However, I’d be keen to see what expansion plans for Rattray the council has. As the area grows so too does the need for a doctors’ surgery, wider shopping choices and leisure, recreation and entertainment facilities.
“A thorough investigation into infrastructure and the impact of this development will also need to be completed to accommodate the significant increase in road traffic to the area if we are to avoid a repeat of the problems in the past and or other areas in the region.”